A Comprehensive Study of Ceramic Matrix Composites for Space Applications

Abstract

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) have grown in popularity as a material for a range of high as well as protection components, increasing the need to better understand the impacts of multiple machining methods. It is primarily composed of ceramic fibers embedded in the matrix. Ceramic materials, especially carbon fibers and carbon were used to create the matrix and fibers. These ceramics include a huge variety of non-metallic inorganic materials that are regularly utilized under high temperatures. The aircraft industry became revolutionized by this unique combination of materials, which made parts better resistant under extreme conditions as well as lighter than the earlier technology. The development, properties, and production of ceramic matrix composites, as well as space applications, are discussed in this article. Ceramic materials have an interesting set of properties, including great strength and stiffness under extremely high temperatures, chemical inertness, low density, etc. In CMC, ceramics are used in the matrix as well as reinforcement. The matrix material keeps things running smoothly while the reinforcement delivers unique special properties. Ceramic matrix composites are developed for applications that required high thermal and mechanical characteristics, which include nuclear power plants, aircraft, chemical plants, space structures, and transportation services. Even though advanced aircraft relies on high-performance propulsion systems, improving the total impulses over the total mass ratio for rocket engines becomes essential for improving their performance that demands reduced engine structural weight as well as higher component heat resistance. The evolution of new ultra-high-temperature composites having high-temperature resistance as well as low density that a substitute super alloy and refractory metal material has become so essential and laid the foundation for high-performance engine design. The benefits of continuous fiber- reinforced CMC with high-temperature engine designs have long been recognized as a better measure of a country’s ability to design and produce spacecraft, modern aircraft, and weapons. Ceramic matrix composites materials are used in various aircraft type engines, aircraft brake disks, high-temperature gas turbines components, slide bearing components, hot gas duct, flame holders and components for burners are made by using oxide CMCs.

Engineering Matrix Materials for Composites: Their Variety, Scope and Applications

“…[58][59][60] By combining different ceramic matrix materials with special and suitable reinforcement fibers, new properties can be tailored to obtain products for hi-tech applications to meet the urgent demand of multi-functional composites 7 involving oxidation resistance, high strength and strong microwave attenuation in application of future high speed stealth vehicle, ceramics and their derivative architectures have considered to be a promising candidate in the field of high-temperature microwave absorption (HTMA) owning to tunable dielectric properties as well as intrinsic excellent thermo-physical properties. 7,65,66 Ceramics are inorganic and nonmetallic materials. Their main constituents are generally silica (SiO 2 ), alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), and other inorganic non-metallic substances.…”

“…Although ceramics are generally insulators, they can also be formed to serve as electrically conductive materials; however some ceramics, like superconductors, also display magnetic properties. 66,67 Ceramics matrices are generally brittle. In order to overcome their brittleness, reinforcements are incorporated into them to effect extrinsic toughening mechanism in the system of ceramic-matrix composite materials (CMCs).…”

“…Depending on their processing procedural method of formation; ceramics can provide a wide range of products with controlled density from lightweight to dense products. 66…”

“…In addition, combined with the design ideas of metamaterials, the absorbing structural units of composite materials are miniaturized in size, and the design methods of single structural unit deep absorption and multiple broadband absorption provides a new way to improve the wideband stealth performance of composite. 65,66 Using metamaterials engineers' focus is to achieve impedance matching design, through structural design and thermal protection layer to form an integrated structure of infrared stealth and thermal protection performance of ceramic composite. [65][66][67]87 Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are composed of fiber, interface layer and matrix.…”

“…65,66 Using metamaterials engineers' focus is to achieve impedance matching design, through structural design and thermal protection layer to form an integrated structure of infrared stealth and thermal protection performance of ceramic composite. [65][66][67]87 Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are composed of fiber, interface layer and matrix. Overall microwave absorbing performance strongly depends on the ceramic fiber, interface layer, matrix densification process and metamaterial structure design.…”