The preparation of LPS SiC-fibre-reinforced SiC ceramics using electrophoretic deposition

With the aim of determining the possibility of producing SiC-based ceramic-matrix composites using the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique, the effect of the composition of SiC-based suspensions on the deposition was studied. Ethanol suspensions of two different grades of SiC powders, with and without the addition of a sintering aid, were used for depositing on steel electrodes or on SiC-fibres. The pH of the suspensions, the solids loading and the particle size were shown to have a strong influence on the deposition process and on the properties of the fresh deposits. The overall results demonstrate that by using appropriate conditions for the EPD, a firm SiC-based deposit can be collected at the SiC-fibres and after suitable thermal treatment, a pore-free SiC-matrix, well adhered to the SiC fibres, can be achieved.