| abstract |
A process for fabricating ceramic composites employs a thermoplastic photo-curable pre-ceramic polymer in which the component is shape by a variety of standard composite fabrication techniques, such as filament winding, tape winding, and woven cloth winding. The process includes steps of passing ceramic fiber monofilament, tow, mat, or woven cloth through a solution of said thermoplastic photo-curable pre-ceramic polymer, applying ceramic fiber monofilament, tow, mat, or woven cloth to a moving flat substrate, using a compaction roller to press the thermoplastic pre-ceramic polymer coated ceramic fiber onto flat substrate, using photo-light of the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared light spectrum to induce cross-linking (curing) of the photo-curable pre-ceramic polymer thereby rendering a thermoset polymer and either partially or completely pyrolyzing the now cured pre-ceramic polymer matrix coated ceramic fiber material. |