Ceramic materials and processing technology. Foreign trip report, June 20-July 2, 1990.

摘要

The traveler visited both the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and Italy. In the FRG, discussions were held with representatives of the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft-und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Cologne on advanced ceramic materials and processing technology. Composite materials based on silicon nitride and mullite matrices are being developed at that institute for aerospace applications. Because of personnel changes, the present staff at DLR has little experience in processing of silicon nitride by their patented hot-isostatic-pressing encapsulation technique. The traveler subsequently attended the 7th World Ceramics Congress, in Montecatini Terme, Italy, where he presented a poster on the high-temperature strength of silicon nitride and sialon composites. Topics of interest at the conference included presentations on ceramic fibers, ceramics produced by reaction of metal particles, toughening mechanisms, and advanced heat engine materials.