Phase II.5 SBIR: SiNC Ceramic Fibers for the IHPTET/VAATE Engine

This Phase II.5 SBIR program aims to scale-up the production of MATECH’s SiNC-1400X structural ceramic fiber tow, developed with prior Navy SBIR funding, to enable ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fabrication suitable for pre-qualification testing and evaluation for application to JSF engine hardware. MATECH will manufacture SiNC-1400X ceramic fiber tow to suitable levels for GE to fabricate CMC test coupons for thermo-mechanical property measurements as well as prototyping vane components for testing and evaluation. These vane components would be analogous to the 3rd stage LPT vanes envisioned for the F136 JSF engine. In addition, this funding will enable MATECH to implement rigorous quality control standards, adopt AS9100 as its quality control management system (QMS), and reach a production capacity of approximately 40 kg of SiNC-1400X tow per month. This Phase II.5 SBIR program has resulted from a Technology Transition Agreement signed by GE Aviation, NAVAIR, and the JSF Program Office (JPO).