5 - Advances in manufacture of ceramic matrix composites by infiltration techniques

Abstract

Ceramic matrix composites reinforced with long fibers are commonly fabricated by infiltration methods, in which the ceramic matrix is formed from a fluid infiltrated into the fiber structure. The infiltration techniques differ from each other in the types of the fluids and the processes of conversion of the fluid into a ceramic: polymer infiltration and pyrolysis, chemical vapor infiltration, reactive melt infiltration, slurry infiltration, and sol–gel infiltration. Formation of the ceramic matrix microstructure, properties of the interface, and benefits and drawbacks of the composites prepared by different techniques are discussed in this chapter. Fabrication routes including the stages of preform preparation, interphase deposition, preceramic fluid infiltration, and thermal processing are described.