Increasing demands on the strength and temperature tolerance for composite materials will require innovative approaches in composition and fabrication. Composite materials composed of single crystal whiskers show promising tensile strength but have proven difficult to grow and have not been produced in useful lengths. LaserGenics Corporation is proposing to investigate the growth of single crystal fibers of VC and NbC by the laser- heated pedestal-growth technique. Fibers of these materials will be grown, their morphology characterized, x- ray diffraction and strength measurements made during the Phase I effort. Single crystal fibers of multi-metre lengths of these very high melting point materials will be the basis of a Phase I program. Composite materials incorporating the fibers will be made, the effect the fibers have on strength will be determined.
