Synthesis of highly tailored ceramic matrix composites by pressure-pulsed CVI

Pressure-pulsed chemical vapor infiltration (P-CVI) is a new processing technique to produce ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) (C/C, C/SiC and SiC/SiC) from gaseous precursors with highly tailored interphases and matrices. P-CVI can be used to control the microtexture of pyrocarbon deposited from hydrocarbon in a porous body. It is also used to form (PyC–SiC)n or (BN–SiC)n interphases with elementary layer thickness of a few nanometers. Finally, P-CVI is an efficient way to produce self-healing matrices comprising mechanical fuse layers (PyC or BN) and glass-former layers (B13C2 or/and SiC). The resulting model or real composites display an oxidation resistance, in air at 600–700°C and under load, which is improved by two orders of magnitude.