Abstract: A woven fiber structure presenting over at least one of its outside faces a satin weave formed by interlinking a first set of yarns with a second set of yarns; wherein the first set of yarns is in the majority over the outside face, the first set of yarns being formed by a mixture of yarns having an S-twist and of yarns having a Z-twist.

Abstract: A method of needling a fiber layer, includes first needling the fiber layer by a needling head, during which the fiber layer is caused to move in translation relative to the needling head, wherein needles of the needling head are distributed uniformly over a surface of the needling head; after the first needling, shifting the fiber layer relative to the needling head along a shift direction through a distance d equal to N·x·p, where N is an integer not less than 1, x is a coefficient greater than 0, and less than 1, and p designates the pitch of two consecutive needles of the needling head along the shift direction; and second needling the fiber layer, after the shifting, and during which the fiber layer is moved in translation relative to the needling head, the needles not penetrating, during the second needling, into the holes formed during the first needling.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a needled fiber structure using a needling machine having a needling head with a plurality of needles, the method including placing a first fiber layer on a support; needling the first fiber layer, with the needling head being in a first position relative to the support, at least at the end of needling the first layer; after needling the first layer, implementing relative movement between the support and the needling head so as to cause the needling head to go from the first position relative to the support to a second position that is different from the first; placing a second fiber layer on the needled first fiber layer; and needling the second fiber layer placed on the first fiber layer, the needling head being in the second position relative to the support at least at the beginning of needling the second fiber layer.

Abstract: A needling installation includes a rotary support on which a fiber texture is wound to form a fiber preform, the rotary support being mounted on a frame that is movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X; a stripper including one plate including perforations; a needling module having a needle board carrying needles; a contact force application system connected to the stripper; a contact force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force with which the outside face of the plate of the stripper makes contact against the fiber preform, and a controller to control the contact force application system to apply a force to the plate of the stripper that is predetermined as a function of information provided by each contact force sensor and as a function of a target value for a predetermined contact force.

Abstract: A sized yarn for subjecting to a textile operation, the yarn including a plurality of ceramic and/or carbon fibers; an interphase coating covering the fibers; and a film covering the interphase coating and including a linear polysiloxane.

Abstract: A woven fiber structure presenting over at least one of its outside faces a satin weave formed by interlinking a first set of yarns with a second set of yarns; wherein the first set of yarns is in the majority over the outside face, the first set of yarns being formed by a mixture of yarns having an S-twist and of yarns having a Z-twist.

Abstract: A needling installation includes a rotary support on which a fiber texture is wound to form a fiber preform, the rotary support being mounted on a frame that is movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X; a stripper including one plate including perforations; a needling module having a needle board carrying needles; a contact force application system connected to the stripper; a contact force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force with which the outside face of the plate of the stripper makes contact against the fiber preform, and a controller to control the contact force application system to apply a force to the plate of the stripper that is predetermined as a function of information provided by each contact force sensor and as a function of a target value for a predetermined contact force.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a needled fiber structure using a needling machine having a needling head with a plurality of needles, the method including placing a first fiber layer on a support; needling the first fiber layer, with the needling head being in a first position relative to the support, at least at the end of needling the first layer; after needling the first layer, implementing relative movement between the support and the needling head so as to cause the needling head to go from the first position relative to the support to a second position that is different from the first; placing a second fiber layer on the needled first fiber layer; and needling the second fiber layer placed on the first fiber layer, the needling head being in the second position relative to the support at least at the beginning of needling the second fiber layer.

Abstract: A method of needling a fiber layer, includes first needling the fiber layer by a needling head, during which the fiber layer is caused to move in translation relative to the needling head, wherein needles of the needling head are distributed uniformly over a surface of the needling head; after the first needling, shifting the fiber layer relative to the needling head along a shift direction through a distance d equal to N·x·p, where N is an integer not less than 1, x is a coefficient greater than 0, and less than 1, and p designates the pitch of two consecutive needles of the needling head along the shift direction; and second needling the fiber layer, after the shifting, and during which the fiber layer is moved in translation relative to the needling head, the needles not penetrating, during the second needling, into the holes formed during the first needling.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fiber structure, the method including a) forming at least one essentially amorphous ceramic fiber by applying heat treatment at a temperature lying in the range 900° C. to 1200° C. to at least one fiber that is a precursor of ceramic fiber; and b) performing one or more textile operations using at least one essentially amorphous ceramic fiber formed by performing step a) in order to form a fiber structure including the at least one essentially amorphous ceramic fiber.

Abstract: A sized yarn for subjecting to a textile operation, the yarn including a plurality of ceramic and/or carbon fibers; an interphase coating covering the fibers; and a film covering the interphase coating and including a linear polysiloxane.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part out of impervious thermostructural composite material, the method comprising forming a porous substrate from at least one fiber reinforcement made of refractory fibers, and densifying the reinforcement by a first phase of carbon and by a second phase of silicon carbide. The method then continues by impregnating the porous substrate with a composition based on molten silicon so as to fill in the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a part out of impervious thermostructural composite material, the method comprising forming a porous substrate from at least one fiber reinforcement made of refractory fibers, and densifying the reinforcement by a first phase of carbon and by a second phase of silicon carbide. The method then continues by impregnating the porous substrate with a composition based on molten silicon so as to fill in the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A sealing box for a chamber for continuously treating a thin strip product, in particular for a furnace for continuously carbonizing a fiber substrate. The sealing box comprises: a longitudinal passage (12) opening out from the box via a first end (12b) for connection to an inlet or an outlet of a treatment chamber (2) and via a second end (12a), opposite from the first; a support surface (14a) inside the passage, on which a strip product (T) can travel between the ends of the box; and static sealing means (30) acting by making contact with the strip product travelling along the passage on the support surface. The static sealing means comprise at least one inflatable gasket (32) placed across the passage (12) above the support surface (14a), and dynamic sealing means (40) are also provided in the passage between the second end (12a) of the box and the static sealing means, the dynamic sealing means comprising means (52, 56) for injecting gas into at least one chamber (42, 46) formed in the passage.

Abstract: A sealing box for a chamber for continuously treating a thin strip product, in particular for a furnace for continuously carbonizing a fiber substrate.