Patent ID: 6660115
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: B32B,B82Y,C04B

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite using fibers comprising the steps of:(a) forming a slurry comprising a ceramic sol, filler material and a suspension medium, (b) forming a plurality of laminates of the fibers, (c) applying the slurry to each of the plurality of laminates of fibers, (d) stacking the plurality of laminates of fibers on a mold, (e) applying pressure to the stack of laminates of fibers at a low temperature to remove the suspension medium from the slurry to solidify the ceramic sol and thereby produce a ceramic matrix composite, (f) pressure less sintering the ceramic matrix composite at a high temperature and at atmospheric pressure wherein step (e) further comprises covering the stack with a porous membrane, covering the porous membrane with a breather fabric, covering the breather fabric with a vacuum bag and evacuating the vacuum bag to remove the suspension medium from the slurry to solidify the ceramic sol and thereby produce the ceramic matrix composite and evacuating the vacuum bag to a pressure less than 3000 Pa and holding at that pressure for about 10 hours.