Advances in ceramic composites reinforced by continuous fibers

Ceramic matrix composites reinforced with continuous fibers are on the verge of insertion into hot engineering structures. Yet current research is only beginning to attack some of the most critical problems. Key developments in the last 24 months include the formulation of constitutive laws for continuum mechanics analyses; the discovery of stable weak oxide-oxide interface systems; the analysis of how fiber creep limits life at high temperatures; confrontation of the problem of oxidation pesting at intermediate temperatures in SiC based systems; re-examination of the maxim that interfaces must be weak; and the advent of textile reinforcement as the solution to delamination problems. (C) Current Chemistry Ltd