Societe Europeenne De Propulsion

Messier Fonderie D'arudy

Jean-Philippe Rocher

Roger Naslain

Louis G Heraud

Jacques Thebault

Rene Pailler

Jean-Claude Cavalier

Christian Bertone

Jean-Pierre Astier

Jean-Michel Quenisset

Jacques Cotteret

Jean-Luc Laquet

A part is made of a composite material having an alumina matrix by impregnating a fiber texture with a fluid composition containing a liquid precursor of alumina, a thermoplastic resin, and a suspension of alumina powder, and subsequently convening the precursor into alumina. Additional solid fillers may be added to the impregnation composition. The impregnated fiber texture is preferably made by draping and molding plies that are pre-impregnated with said composition.

Method of making parts out of an alumina matrix composite material

In a process according to the invention, before a carbon/fiber ceramic matrix is densified, the carbon fiber reinforcement material is subjected to a thermal treatment in a non-oxidizing environment at a temperature greater than 1300.degree. C. and less than 2200.degree. C., to act on the bonding between the fibers and the matrix. If a preform of the carbon fiber reinforcement material is formed prior to densification by a matrix, then the thermal treatment may be performed on the preform, prior to densification by the matrix. If the matrix is densified by chemical vapor infiltration inside a furnace, then the thermal treatment may be performed inside the infiltration furnace prior to the densification. The thermal treatment achieves a significant improvement in the strength of the resulting composite material.

Process for the manufacture of a fiber reinforced composite material

The thermostructural composite material is produced by forming a fibrous preform made from refractory fibers coated with a sizing agent. The preform is densified by a refractory matrix, in particular ceramic, while a carbon interphase is provided between the fibers and the matrix. The fibrous preform is made from refractory fibers coated with a sizing agent of the type that leaves behind a carbon residue upon thermal decomposition. The carbon interphase is produced by the thermal degradation of the sizing agent, occurring for example after the preform is made. The sizing agent is chosen among phenolic, acrylic and cellulose resins, and in particular carboxymethylcellulose.

Process for the manufacture of a thermostructural composite material

A layer (16) forming interphase in a material having a lamellar structure is situated between the fibers of the texture and the matrix, and at least one layer (14) forming control interphase is situated between the surface of the fibers (10) and the lamellar interphase (16) in such a way as to define, for those cracks which have spread through the matrix (18) and the lamellar interphase (16), a preferential propagation zone away from direct contact with the actual fibers (10).

Composite material with multiple interphases between refractory

Process for making composite materials consisting of a first reinforcing

Growing community of inventors

St. Medard en Jalles, France

Jean-Philippe Rocher