Hybrid composite articles and missile components, and their fabrication

摘要

A surface-protected composite article (40), such as a component of a missile (20), is prepared with a heat-sink substrate (42), a first composite layer (44) of an pre-ceramic-matrix structural composite material, and a second composite layer (46) of a reinforced silicone pre-ceramic material. The silicone material is co-curable with the organic matrix of the first composite layer (44). The silicone at the surface (48) of the article (40) is thereafter converted to a silica refractory by an appropriate treatment such as exposure to an oxygen-rich plasma or a high-surface temperature. The silica protects the surface of the composite material.