Slide 1 What are CMCs?

Ceramic matrix composites represent a new class of non-brittle refractory

materials for harsh and extreme environments, characterized by high thermal stability, corrosion resistance and strength-to-weight ratio. This makes them predestined for use in aerospace, ground transportation, mechanical engineering and power generation.

But even though they have so many useful properties, costs continue to be a major challenge in achieving commercialization for ceramics matrix composites. Thats why they have limited uses.

Slide 2
The 5 places where CMCs are mostly used are 1. Automative Components 2. Aerospace Applications 3. Military Applications 4. Nuclear Applications 5. Commercial Production Applications

Slide 3 & 4
1. Automative Components 1. Brake disks The improved discs have almost no wear and are expected to last a lifetime or 300,000 km for a car and reduce costs by 75-80% compared to C/C disks. No distortion or corrosion has been observed. However, process costs still need to be reduced since the discs are quite expensive (7500 Euro for a 16.5 kg weight reduction). If costs come down the discs may have application as service brakes for cars/planes and emergency brakes for trains. 2. Heat Engines Applications The principle advantages of CMCs are: 1. Ability to withstand high operating temperatures, thereby increasing fuel efficiency 2. Excellent wear and corrosion resistant 3. Lower frictional losses 4. The ability to operate without a cooling system 5. Lower densities, which results in decreased engine weights

However the chief drawback to the use of CMCs in heat engines is their disposition to brittle and catastrophic failure, due to their relatively low fracture toughnesss.

Slide 5
Aerospace Applications Significant weight saving is achieved when heavy superalloys are replaced by high strength and tough C/SiC or SiC/SiC composites in aerojet or rocket engines. Fighters are already equipped with CMC engine nozzles and could have, in the future, CMC combustion chambers. Lifetimes of parts working at high temperatures are improved by replacing metal alloys by CMCs. The use of C/C brakes, first on military fighters and then on civil jumbo jet aircraft, on the basis of weight saving, braking performance, reduces fuel consumption, allowing longer range or more payloads in aircraft and safety considerations. Ceramic fibers are used as heat shields for fire protection and thermal insulation in aircraft and space shuttles because they resist heat, are lightweight, do not corrode, high melting temperatures, resiliency, tensile strength and chemical inertness.

Slide 6
Military Applications The chief consideration in these applications is the weight of the protective material required to thwart projectile impact. Upon impact, the facing plates must be hard enough to fracture the high-velocity projectile, which upon impact also causes brittle fracture of the plate itself.

Slide 7 Nuclear Applications

For the time being CMCs have limited use in nuclear application. The Generation IV international forum hopes to deploy new advanced nuclear systems by 2030. Six systems are being considered. Among these Very High Temperature (VHT) reactor will operate at 1800C, leading to high thermal efficiency which will be ideal for hydrogen production and have inherent passive safety.

Slide 8
Commercial Production Applications On slurry pumps because of its good durability and wear resistance. Other high temperature applications are: o Coal-fired power plant candle filters used for particulate removal, natural gas burner elements, and U-tubes.

Advantage of CMCs over monolithic ceramic is thermal shock resistance in this application.

SiC whisker

Slide 9
Industrial Applications Uses of CMCs components in a variety of application make economic sense because it will result in higher operating temperature, higher efficiency, and reduced contamination, benefits in the energy and environmental (reduced emission) areas and longer service life.