CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE HAVING IMPROVED INTERLAMINAR STRENGTH

摘要

A ceramic matrix composite material (10) having a plurality of interlaminar stitches (16) as shown in figure. The stitches are formed by directing laser energy into the material to melt and recast zones of the material in a direction transverse to the layers of reinforcing fibers (12). The stitches not only improve the interlaminar strength of the material, but they also increase the through-thickness thermal conductivity of the material, thereby reducing thermal-induced stresses. The zones of recast material (18) may define holes (20) extending at least partially through the thickness of the material. The holes may be filled with a filler material (24), thereby mitigating any adverse loss-of-area effect created by the holes.