This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project produces potentially single phase alpha or beta or a mixture of polytypes of silicon carbide fiber that will withstand high temperature (> 1400 ÃC) use. Silicon carbide fibers stand out as a primary candidate among commercially available ceramic fibers that can be used as reinforcements to toughen ceramics for use at high temperatures. There are underlying sound technical and economic reasons why the presently available fibers have not made headway commercially. These fibers degrade both chemically and mechanically during manufacture of the ceramic matrix composite. The cost of these fibers can range from $500 to $1,000 per kg. depending upon the quality of the fiber and the quantity ordered. This project addresses a new silicon carbide fiber manufacture that uses 1) low cost silicon and carbon containing raw materials, 2) simple furnacing technique, and 3) complete avoidance of fiber spinning or drawing and sintering methodology or polymer chemical conversion technology and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. The process offers relatively low risk in scale up to demand driven silicon carbide fiber manufacture.
