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Modeling and Simulation of Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Processing by Polymer Infiltration and Pyrolysis

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-13-M-5048
Agency Tracking Number: F131-122-0203
Amount: $150,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF131-122
Solicitation Number: 2013.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-07-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2014-04-01
Small Business Information
4401 Dayton-Xenia Road
Dayton, OH -
United States
DUNS: 074689217
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 John Porter
 Materials Scientist
 (937) 426-6900
 jporter@ues.com
Business Contact
 Rick Weddle
Title: Director, Contracts
Phone: (937) 426-6900
Email: rweddle@ues.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

ABSTRACT: The challenge for manufacturing ceramic matrix composites using the preceramic polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) method is to ensure a fully dense matrix. Material loss during a pyrolysis cycle requires multiple reinfiltration and pyrolysis cycles to maximize matrix density. While the first cycle typically uses a ceramic powder filled polymer, subsequent cycles do not. We propose to team with Teledyne Scientific, both to access measured data on fiber placement in tested CMC"s and to have a team member ready to benefit from knowledge learned here to improve the reliability of CMC"s for hypersonic application. The two-fold approach we propose uses a physical analog of CMC PIP processing to understand the PIP process. We propose to use photopolymer additive manufacturing to build multiple identical models of a preform that has stochastically varied fiber placement, and then studying their infiltration using poly vinyl alcohol in aqueous solution. Subsequent evaporation of the solvent will mimic the volume reduction associated with pyrolysis. Guided by such a physical observation of the PIP process, we will work with Teledyne to mathematically model preform geometry and the subsequent polymer infiltration and pyrolysis, such that matrix filling of an actual ceramic fiber preform can be optimized. BENEFIT: A model that can optimize matrix filling for a polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) processed CMC will be applicable to all CMC systems manufactured by PIP, as well as the CMCs of interest to our partner, Teledyne Scientific.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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