Toughened Ceramics Depend on Unique Fiber Approach

摘要

A research team at Advanced Ceramics Research Corp. (ACR) in Tucson, Arizona has developed fibrous monolith composite ceramics designed to fail gradually, with good damage tolerance. Fibrous Monoliths (FMs) are produced by blending thermodynamically compatible ceramic and/or metal powders with thermoplastic polymer binders. These then are coextruded to form a "green fiber." That fiber can be wound, woven, or braided into components such as drill bit inserts, propulsion nozzles, seals and valves, or turbine engine components. Then the FMs are fired to remove their polymer binder and they are hot-pressed.