FIBER-REINFORCED GLASS BASE MATERIAL AND PREPARATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL ARTICLE WHEREIN GLASS/CERAMICS ARE BASE MATERIAL

摘要

A method of manufacturing a glass or glass-ceramic matrix composite article (20) is disclosed which serves to eliminate the need for an expensive vacuum hot press and to significantly reduce the time required for densification. A preform composed of a mixture of chopped or continuous fibers such as carbon or silicon carbide and glass powder is heated to a temperature sufficiently high to soften the glass powder to a deformable state. Thereupon, the preform is deformed between dies (24) which are at a temperature below that of the preform. A resultant composite article (20) assumes the configuration of the shaped die cavity and is cooled by the natural loss of heat to the dies.