LOW COST STRUCTURAL CERAMIC COMPOSITES

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONTRACT ARE TO APPLY INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS TO LOW TEMPERATURE FORMATION OF ADVANCED HIGH TEMPERATURE MATERIALS AND THEN INTEGRATE THESE CONCEPTS INTO LOW COST MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. THE COMPOSITES ARE FORMED AS NET SHAPES OR AS COATINGS. CONTROL IS ACHIEVED AT THE NANOMETER SCALE THROUGH ATOMIC DEPOSITION AND THERMALLY ACTIVATED REACTION BONDING. SEVERAL PROCESSES ARE UNDER TEST WITH INITIAL RESULTS SHOWING EXCELLENT PROMISE FOR MEETING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE: AEROSPACE AND POWER STRUCTURES; THERNAL MANAGEMENT; INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPONENTS; RADAR AND EMI SHIELDING AND REFLECTION CONTROL; ABRASION AND FRICTIONAL WEAR RESISTANCE; CORROSION RESISTANCE; COMPOSITE MEDIA FOR EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC FILTERS;POWER GENERATION COMPONENTS; PROSTHETICS AND PROSTHODONTICS; RUBBER AND PLASTIC MOLD COATINGS; AND TEXTILE MACHINE GUIDE COATINGS.