SiNC Ceramic Fibers for the JSF/VAATE Engine

In this proposed NAVAIR/JSF funded Phase II SBIR Program, MATECH will develop SiNC structural ceramic fibers for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) for ultimate use as components in the JSF/VAATE engine. These fibers are predominantly silicon nitride with 10 to 15 percent silicon carbide, mixed at the molecular level. Potential advantages over conventional CG-NICALON fibers include 1/3rd the creep of SiC at high temperatures, a much higher use temperature, suppression of exaggerated grain growth at high temperature, potentially less expensive, the LO properties could be tailorable, a compositionally identical matrix now exists, and it would be obtained from a domestic source (including starting materials). Compared with very expensive, high performance fibers, such as Hi-NICALON and Sylramic, no boron is needed as a sintering aid.