| abstract |
A carbon composite structure, for example, an automotive engine piston, is made by preparing a matrix comprised essentially of a mixture of non crystalline particulate soluble in an organic solvent and a binder that has a liquid phase. The non crystalline particulate also contains residual carbon hydrogen bonding. An uncured structured is formed by combining the matrix mixture, for example, carbon fibers such as graphite dispersed in the mixture and/or graphite cloth imbedded in the mixture. The uncured structure is cured by pyrolyzing it in an inert atmosphere such as argon. Advantagesoulsy, the graphite reinforcement material is whiskered prior to combining it with the matrix mixture by a method involving passing a gaseous metal suboxide over the graphite surface. |