Silicon carbide whisker reinforced ceramic composites and method for making same

Patent · Tue Sep 24 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5819170

Wei, G C

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 1600/sup 0/ to 1950/sup 0/ C. with pressing times varying from about 0.75 to 2.5 hours. The resulting ceramic composites show an increase in fracture toughness of up to about 9 MPa.m /SUP 1/2/ which represents as much as a two-fold increase over that of the matrix material.

• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4543345
• OSTI ID: 5819170
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360201* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BORON CARBIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTALS
FABRICATION
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
HIGH PRESSURE
HOT PRESSING
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS WORKING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MINERALS
MONOCRYSTALS
MULLITE
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRESSING
REINFORCED MATERIALS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
WHISKERS