Low Cost Net-to-Shape Fiber Preforms for Complex-Shaped CMCs.

As described in Navy SBIR Solicitation N05-096, there exists today a strong need for advanced preforming approaches to produce complex-shaped CMC cooled-turbine components for military engines. MATECH/GSM proposes to address this need by employing innovative low-cost preforming approaches using ""Net-to-Shape""TM non-woven architectures for those CMC components that require high structural performance as well as complex shape formability, such as turbines vanes, blades, and shrouds. MATECH proposes to demonstrate that both requirements can be achieved by the use of non-woven preforming approaches using MATECH's high-performance SiNC fibers combined with MATECH's "Net-to-Shape"TM fiber perform process. These non-woven methods will be demonstrated in CMC preforms and components using MATECH's high-performance Si-doped BN fiber coatings and MATECH's high-performance matrices formed by infiltration and pyrolysis of MATECH's SiNC matrix polymers.