FIBER REINFORCED CERAMIC RADOME MATERIAL WITH IMPROVED RESISTANCE TO THERMAL SHOCK, HIGH TEMPERATURE, AND EROSION

For this research, Advanced Cerametrics, (ACI)will combine its patented fiber forming technology with conventional ceramic forming methods including slip casting, injection molding and isostatic pressing to develop a low cost and economically scalable method to make ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite missile radomes for hypersonic flight. The matrix material is high-celsian barium aluminosilicate (BAS) and various fiber chemistries will be created to act as composite reinforcement. Examples of these are Si3N4 or ALON. The fibers will impart improved mechanical properties (increased toughness, hardness, low and high temperature strength and wear resistance) while maintaining good thermal shock and dielectric properties. The BAS will also be made into fiber and assembled into a fibrous monolith and backfilled with the low dielectric CeraBlack material. Tooling will be made and sample radomes will be produced by the above forming methods. The various materials will be characterized for electrical and mechanical properties.