Fabrication of SiCf/SiC composites by SITE-P process

A novel processing technique for fabrication of a three-dimensional SiCf/SiC composite for fusion application is presented. The process comprises two main steps: first, electric field-assisted slip-infiltration to fill the inter-bundle and intra-bundle voids in the three-dimensional SiC-fabric and second, infiltration of this green composite with a pre-ceramic polymer, followed by thermal treatment at 1600 °C. After six consecutive repetition of the second step, a composite with high thermal conductivity is achieved. It is presented that this is mainly the consequence of small pores and high crystallinity of the material.