Abstract: A carbon-rich zirconia-silica sol is prepared by the steps of dissolving zirconyl nitrate hydrate in absolute ethanol, mixing the solution thus obtained with a silicon alkoxide, and mixing the latter solution with a polyelectrolyte. The resulting carbon-rich sol/polyelectrolyte mixture can be employed to coat continuous fiber tow or filaments, to make nanosized zircon powder and to make a porous zircon membrane material.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a continuous fiber which comprises: (a) a coating composition container having an orifice in the bottom portion thereof, coating composition inlet means in the lower portion thereof and fluid inlet means in the upper portion thereof; (b) a furnace positioned above the coating container in axial alignment with the orifice in the coating composition container; (c) means for transporting a continuous fiber tow to be coated through the orifice, through the coating composition in the coating composition container, and through the furnace, including a source of continuous tow, a lower alignment and tensioning means, an upper alignment and tensioning means, and takeup means; (d) a catch vessel positioned below the lower alignment and tensioning means for collecting excess coating composition; and (e) means for removing coating composition from the catch vessel and passing the same to a surge vessel having an outlet in the lower portion thereof in fluid communication with the coating composit

Abstract: An improved method for producing a fiber-reinforced ceramic composite having a monazite interface between the reinforcing fiber and the ceramic matrix, which comprises the steps of coating each filament in a continuous fiber tow with an aqueous sol that forms monazite after high temperature heat treatment, heat treating the thus-coated fiber tow to provide a coated tow having a layer of monazite thereon, embedding the fiber in a suitable ceramic matrix, and densifying the composite.