Method for forming composite articles of complex shapes

摘要

The present invention discloses a method of making fiber reinforced glass, glass-ceramic or ceramic matrix composite articles. The method comprises forming the matrix material into fibers and then into yarn which is woven or knitted into cloth. The matrix cloth is then cut into preformed shapes and interleaved with preformed pieces of fabric which have been woven or knitted from yarn containing the fiber reinforcement. The interleaved preformed structure is then placed in a die and densified under pressure and temperature to form the composite article. Also disclosed is a method wherein the yarn of reinforcing fiber and matrix fibers is woven or knitted together to form a hybrid cloth. This hybrid cloth is then cut into predetermined forms and placed in a die and densified under heat and pressure to form the composite article. Further, a hybrid cloth comprising yarn of both matrix and reinforcing fibers may be formed and then cut into predetermined forms, placed in a die and densified under heat and pressure forming a component article. In addition, these fibers and yarns may be formed into near net structures which can then be densified to form complex composite articles.