SBIR/STTR Phase I: Rapid Oven-less Fabrication of SiC/SiC Composites

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will address the high cost and size and shape capability of ceramic matrix composites. Silicon carbide (SiC) fiber reinforced silicon carbide composites require furnaces, reactors, or ovens to produce the SiC/SiC composite matrix. These reactors, furnaces, and ovens are large capital expenditures limiting product size and shape and significantly increasing the cost of composites. Phase I will use an oven-less process to make SiC/SiC composites with a reaction-bonded silicon carbide matrix to remove cost, size, and shape constraints on SiC/SiC composites. Phase I will determine the thermal processing parameters required to produce SiC/SiC composites comparable to furnace-produced composites. Density, microscopy, and strength will be used to evaluate the process. This is a technology for producing SiC/SiC composites that are not dependent on furnace proportions that control the size, shape and cost of the composite parts. Large and complex shapes are expected to be produced rapidly in an oven-less process for advanced turbine engines, radiant tube heaters, heat exchangers and the numerous erosion, corrosion and thermal applications of the chemical, petroleum, and paper and pulp industries