Method of making oxidation resistant CFC-based articles, preferably for space-flights

摘要

To make a component which is resistant to oxidation and temperature shock, in particular a hollow body, for space travel, a solid CFC body having a density of from 0.1 to 0.8 g/cm<3> and having non-oriented short fibres is made from short carbon fibres and a curable resin binder. A CFC blank having the dimensions of the component to be made is obtained from the solid CFC body by turning or other machining which removes material. The CFC blank is infiltrated with pyrolytic carbon up to a density of at most 1.0 g/cm<3> and then with metallic silicon, so that its density becomes more than 2.0 g/cm<3>. A part of the metallic silicon is reacted with the pyrolytic carbon to give silicon carbide. The proportion of the unreacted metallic silicon, remaining in the component after this reaction, is at least 15% by weight.