Masters Theses

Abstract

"The current work is on the development of continuous fiber reinforced ceramic materials (CFCCs) for use in ultra high temperature applications. These applications subject materials to extremely high temperatures (> 2000⁰C). Monolithic ceramics are currently being used for these applications, but the tendency to fail catastrophically has driven the need for the next generation of material. Reinforcing with continuous fibers significantly improves the toughness of the monolithic materials; however, this is a manufacturing challenge. The development of commercial, low-viscosity preceramic polymers provides new opportunities to fabricate CFCCs. Preceramic polymers behave as polymers at low temperatures and are transformed into ceramics upon heating to high temperatures. The polymer precursors enable the adaptation of well-established polymer processing techniques to produce high quality materials at relatively low cost. In the present work, SMP-10 from Starfire Systems, and PURS from KiON Corp. were used to manufacture ZrB2-SiC/SiC CFCCs using low cost vacuum bagging process in conjunction with the polymer infiltration and pyrolysis process. The microstructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and it was determined that the initial greenbody cure produced porosity of both closed and open pores. The open pores were found to be more successfully re-infiltrated using neat resin compared to slurry reinfiltrate; however, the closed pores were found to be impenetrable during subsequent reinfiltrations. The mechanical performance of the manufactured samples was evaluated using flexure tests and found the fiber reinforcement prevented catastrophic failure behavior by increasing fracture toughness. Wedge sample were fabricated and evaluated to demonstrate the ability to produce CFCC of complex geometry"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Chandrashekhara, K.

Committee Member(s)

Myers, John
Köylü, Ümit Ö. (Ümit Özgür)

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

2013

Pagination

ix, 49 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 44-48).

Rights

© 2013 James Robert Nicholas, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Fiber-reinforced ceramicsOrganosilicon compoundsCeramic-matrix compositesHeat resistant materials

Thesis Number

T 10654

Print OCLC #

922580146

Electronic OCLC #

922580183

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