Boron, Si Carbide, & Specialty Reinforcements
Boron and Silicon carbide (SiC) are the most common of very high modulus reinforcements
- Developed in the 1960s at Texaco and United Tech
- Principal use of
- Boron is as a reinforcement with epoxy
- SiC as a reinforcement in ceramic and metal matrices
- Manufacturing method
- Made by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Fig 3-6
- A substrate filament, e.g., Tunsten for Boron, and Carbon for SiC
- Is pulled through a cleaning solution
- Deposition chamber T=2500F: Chemical reaction occurs on the surface of the heated filament. Boron has trichloride and hydrogen
- SiC reactants are alkyl silanes with Si-C-Si structure and hydrogen
- Boron fibers are 4 to 8 mils in diameter
- SiC fibers are 5 to 6 mils.
- Fibers are wound onto spools
- Boron fibers are consolidated with epoxy for prepreg uni tape or Al foil