Silicon carbide whisker reinforced ceramic composites and method for making same
The present invention is directed to the fabrication of ceramic composites which possess improved mechanical properties especially increased fracture toughness. In the formation of these ceramic composites, the single crystal SiC whiskers are mixed with fine ceramic powders of a ceramic material such as Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, mullite, or B{sub 4}C. The mixtures which contain a homogeneous dispersion of the SiC whiskers are hot pressed at pressures in a range of about 28 to 70 MPa and temperatures in the range of about 1,600 to 1,950 C with pressing times varying from about 0.75 to 2.5 hours. The resulting ceramic composites show an increase in fracture toughness which represents as much as a two-fold increase over that of the matrix material.
- Research Organization:
- Union Carbide Corporation
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Assignee:
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US RE 32,843/E/
- Application Number:
- PAN: 6-847,961
- OSTI ID:
- 27688
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: Reissue of US Pat. No. 4,543,345, which was issued Sep. 24, 1985; PBD: 24 Jan 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Silicon carbide whisker reinforced ceramic composites and method for making same
Silicon carbide whisker reinforced ceramic composites and method for making same