Abstract: A composite exhaust flue which may be used to shield an area or object from convective, conductive, or radiated heat transfer from hot exhaust combustion gases is described. In certain embodiments, the composite exhaust flue may be used to protect structures from hot exhaust gases and particles such as those produced by cars, trucks, ships, boats, jets, rockets, as well as other vehicles with internal combustion engines, turbines, or rocket motors. In some embodiments, a composite exhaust flue may comprise a ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic composite high temperature face sheet positioned over an insulating layer and a structural support layer comprising a rigid, porous foam material.

Abstract: Metal matrix composites having open or closed channels extending longitudinal through the length of the composite as well as methods and apparatus for forming the same are described. The shaped metal matrix composites are made of continuous fiber reinforced metal matrix composite materials. They have an integrally formed, non-cast, metal matrix composite body portion where the walls have a substantially uniform distribution of continuous fibers in a matrix metal throughout the volume of the walls and have at least one channel extending through the body of the shaped metal matrix composite.

Abstract: A wet filament winding method and apparatus for producing a consolidated metal matrix composite is described. The methods are directed to winding a softened metal infiltrated fiber bundle and layering the resulting softened metal infiltrated fiber bundle onto a rotating mandrel in a prescribed pattern on the surface of the mandrel to form a consolidated metal matrix composite. Upon cooling, the matrix metal solidifies and the resulting consolidated metal matrix composite may be removed from the mandrel. The consolidated metal matrix composites may be produced in a variety of shapes, such as cylinder, a tapered cylinder, a sphere, an ovoid, a cube, a rectangular solid, a polygonal solid, and panels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of long lengths of continuous-fiber metal matrix composite prepeg ribbon or tape. The tape or ribbon is produced by bringing together multiple fiber tows into a formed bundle of fibers and infiltrating the bundle with metal using a continuous pultrusion process. Pultrusion is a preferred method of tape or ribbon manufacture since it places the fibers in tension during manufacture and avoids subsequent issues associated with buckling stress.