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Title: Silicon carbide whisker reinforced ceramic composites and method for making same

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1176688

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 Al2O3, mullite, or B4C. The mixtures which contain a homogeneous disperson 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° to 1950°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 MP1/2 which represents as much as a two-fold increase over that of the matrix material.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Number(s):
RE32843
Application Number:
06/847,961; 4,543,345
OSTI ID:
1176688
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 1986 Apr 03
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (3)

Silicon Nitride Ceramic Composites with High Toughness journal January 1971
Silicon carbide yarn reinforced glass matrix composites journal April 1982
High-strength silicon carbide fibre-reinforced glass-matrix composites journal February 1980

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