High temperature oxide ceramic composite solutions for Hypersonic and Space Applications

Kurzfassung

Oxide ceramic matrix composites (OCMC) are suitable for use in the aerospace industry due to their low specific weight, good damage tolerance and promising high-temperature properties. State-of-the-art OCMC typically consist of continuous alumina or aluminosilicate fibers and porous matrices of alumina, mullite or mixtures thereof. In order to find the right material for the respective application, it is essential to systematically analyze and evaluate the influence of different matrix and fiber materials on the properties of the component. The right choice of the manufacturing process is also an important criterion. The technologies currently used to produce continuous fiber-reinforced OCMC (e.g. hand-lamination of woven fabrics, vacuum-bagging and filament winding) are not equally suitable for every application and have various advantages and disadvantages. The development of new processes is therefore a decisive step in the exploration of new areas. The development of a new vacuum-(pressure)-assisted slurry infusion technology for oxide CMC (IFOX®) at DLR enables the production of new complex components and expands the previously used field of application. The presentation highlights the influence of different material systems on the properties of OCMC plates produced using the IFOX technology. The physical, mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic properties of three material systems will be compared. Furthermore, the aspect of application temperature and time for these materials will be discussed and current aerospace application examples at DLR will be presented.