Fabrication method of high density amp; high fracture toughness silica radome

摘要

A process for fabrication of high density and high fracture toughness radome is provided to improve fracture toughness and mechanical strength of the silica radome by adding silica staple fibers to fumed silica containing slip casting composition using slip casting technique. The process includes the steps of: preparing silica slurry by mixing and dispersing fused silica and fumed silica in distilled water; preparing silica slurry with fiber reinforced dispersion by adding silica staple fibers to the above silica slurry; casting the fiber dispersed silica slurry on a gypsum mold to form a silica layer deposited on the gypsum mold; and drying, baking and sintering the formed silica layer. Amount of the silica staple fibers to be externally added to the silica slurry ranges from 1 to 30wt.%. The silica staple fibers have diameter ranging from 15 to 25 micrometers and length of less than 10mm.