skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Measurement of gas transport through fiber preforms and densified composites for chemical vapor infiltration

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Ceramic Society
;  [1]
  1. Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Materials Science and Engineering

Gas transport via pressure-driven permeation or via concentration-driven diffusion is a key step in the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process. This paper describes methods for the measurement of these properties for CVI preforms and partially infiltrated composites. Results are presented for Nicalon-fiber cloth layup preforms and composites, Nextel-fiber braid preforms and composites, and a Nicalon-fiber three-dimensional (3-D) weave composite. The permeability of Nicalon cloth layup preforms is strongly dependent on the packing density over the range of 29--40 vol% but is only weakly dependent on the orientation of the alternating cloth layers. The permeability of Nextel braid preforms is dependent on the thread count and the weight for cloths with similar construction and packing density. The gas permeability of the finer wave (6.3 tows/cm (16 tows/in.)) is approximately one-half that of the coarser weave (3.5 tows/cm (9 tows/in.)). Results are reported for a small number of infiltrated composites with Nextel fiber reinforcement. Attempts to mount a Nicalon-fiber 3-D weave preform specimen have been unsuccessful. Results for a small number of composite specimens with 3-D weave reinforcement are reported.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI ID:
642145
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 81, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English