Additive manufacturing of high mechanical strength continuous Cf/SiC composites using a 3D extrusion technique and polycarbosilane-coated carbon fibers |
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Authors: | Ruoyu Chen Adam Bratten Joshua Rittenhouse Ming Leu Haiming Wen |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China;2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, USA;3. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, USA |
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Abstract: | A novel additive manufacturing approach is herein reported for manufacturing high mechanical strength continuous carbon fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (Cf/SiC) composite materials. Continuous carbon fibers were coated with polycarbosilane (PCS) using a colloidal evaporative deposition process and then coextruded with high solid content SiC ink. The zeta potential of the SiC ink was adjusted to optimize the printing ability of the suspension. During sintering, small SiC grains and whiskers were generated in the gaps in and around the PCS-coated carbon fibers, which led to the improved flexural strength and density of the composites. Meanwhile, the PCS coating on the surface of the carbon fibers prevented the carbon fibers from reacting with SiO gas generated by reactions between the SiC matrix and SiO2 and sintering additives (Al2O3 and Y2O3), effectively preserving the structural integrity of the carbon fibers. Compared to the SiC specimens containing uncoated carbon fibers, the density of the specimens fabricated with coated carbon fibers was increased from 2.51 to 2.85 g/cm3, and the strength was increased from 190 to 232 MPa. |
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Keywords: | 3D extrusion-based technique Cf/SiC composite continuous carbon fiber mechanical strength polycarbosilane |
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