Development of chemical vapor composite, CVC materials. Status report, October, 1994--March, 1995

A powder/fiber sensor and controller for CVC reactors was successfully designed, fabricated, tested, and modified. A carbon fiber feeder and controller for a CVC SiC reactor was designed and fabricated but has not yet been tested. SiC material was fabricated using SiC powder ranging in size from 30 to 40 microns. SiC was also fabricated using multiple SiC powders off 10, 30, or 90 microns. Still other SiC materials were fabricated using platelets of 30 or 40 microns. The strength of this SiC material was low due to impurities in the material; ways to eliminate material impurities are currently being thoroughly investigated. Data was assembled on the operation and performance of a typical furnace using a metal fan