SiC/SiC Composites with Multiple Concepts to Reduce Foreign-Object-Damage

Existing SiC/SiC composites have shown inferior resistance to foreign-object-damage (FOD) which limits the applications of SiC/SiC composites high potential to reduce weight and increase specific power in gas turbine engines. There are a number of concepts that individually may only minorly increase the resistance to FOD, but when combined in one composite become additive and possibly synergistic to increase FOD resistance that enables SiC/SiC composites to be utilized in areas sensitive to FOD. This program will define several individual concepts that reduce FOD to SiC/SiC composites through confirmed testing, and demonstrate combining the individual concepts to produce a SiC/SiC composite which substantially eliminates FOD as a design limitation. Composite specimens will be delivered to the Navy, further optimized in the option, and transition into Phase II for testing in a platform with an OEM.