New Discrete Silicon Carbide Fibers for Composites
Advanced Composite Materials, LLC (ACM) manufactures unique, fibrous forms of silicon carbide. Dr. Quantrille will introduce a new class of discrete silicon carbide fibers. Using a new proprietary synthesis technology, ACM can now produce SiC fibers in ranges of 5 to 20 micron in diameter at lengths of 40-200 microns. These silicon carbide fibers are poly-crystalline and contain no residual oxygen in the fiber. They can be produced at a Si to C molar ratio of 1:1, and in addition can be synthesized to contain excess carbon at levels of up to 30%. All forms are temperature stable in air up to 600 oC, are insoluble in all solvents, and are chemically resistant to virtually all materials. They have unique electrical and radiant properties, and have very high loss tangents in the radio and microwave spectrums.
In addition, ACM’s process is focused on low cost – these fibers are available today at costs never before envisioned for non-oxide fibers, nor attainable through other synthesis technologies. Because of very high costs, SiC fibers today are relegated as research materials, or viable in only select applications (such as jet engines) where cost is not a driver. Depending on product type, ACM’s costs are 50%-90% below that of other commercially available SiC fibers. As such, ACM’s new synthesis technology makes silicon carbide fibers a viable product for a range composites in polymers, ceramic and metals.
Dr. Quantrille will describe a few application areas, such as wear and abrasion resistant polymer coatings, and unique random fiber ceramic matrix composites. This new SiC fiber technology opens up a range of composite applications that are both high performance and cost-effective.