Current methods used in the manufacturing of advanced composite materials contribute to long delivery times and high component costs, and limits widespread usage of composites in commercial applications. A new technology has been developed for forming silicon carbide using thermal spray techniques in open air. The goal of this SBIR Phase I proposal is to investigate this silicon carbide forming technology for low cost fabrication of composite structures. The sic technology will be evaluated as (1) a surface coating for fiber reinforced composites and (2) as a matrix material for incorporating various high strength fibers into composite structures. If successful, this technology has the potential for an order of magnitude reduction in composite manufacturing cost and time. This proposal is a 6 month effort which focuses on experimental evaluating using small prototypes to assess technical feasibility. The total cost of the Phase I activity is $61,500.00
