Silicon infiltration of silicon carbide selective laser sintered preforms

High-temperature infiltration is an important process that is used to add strength to skeletal microstructures. In this study, silicon carbide preforms are created using selective laser sintering. These parts are then infiltrated with an epoxy to decrease slumping of the part. They are then infiltrated using high temperature pressureless infiltration of a silicon matrix. This materials system can be applied in a wide variety of industries, including military, aircraft, tooling and automotive. The silicon matrix adds strength to silicon carbide, is robust at high temperatures, and has a comparable coefficient of thermal expansion. Shrinkage measurements, optical microscopy, density measurements, four point bend testing, hardness testing, and scanning electron microscopy were all performed to characterize the parts. The silicon carbide/silicon parts had little shrinkage, were fully infiltrated, have good flexural strength. Flexural strength for non-epoxy silicon infiltrated parts was 147 MPa, and for epoxy silicon infiltrated parts, 163 MPa. Vickers hardness values for non-epoxy silicon infiltrated parts was 1400, and for epoxy silicon infiltrated parts, 1420. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that some undesirable reactions took place, but reaction bonded silicon carbide was formed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Materials Science and Engineering

Grantor

University of Texas at Austin

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Barrow, Stacia Lynn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bourell, David Lee

• Selective laser sintering
• Silicon carbide preform
• Preform fabrication

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Identifier URI

http://dx.doi.org/10.26153/tsw/2008

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/74896