Abstract: A structure, preferably a radome (1) which comprises a honeycomb (11) of ceramic cloth in the form of fused woven fibers bonded with a matrix to provide a ceramic fiber composite. The fibers are quartz and the matrix is a silica matrix. A cloth (13) is impregated with polysiloxane so that the cloth is 65% by weight quartz and 35% by weight polysiloxane. One or more layers of the quartz cloth (13) are disposed over both open ends of the honeycomb, the total thickness of the layers on each side of the honeycomb being 0.06 inches. A layer of a paint (15) of polysiloxane containing titanium dioxide is optionally placed over the outermost layer of the resin impregnated quartz cloth. The radome is fabricated by initially providing the honeycomb, placing the resin-impregnated cloth thereover and then heating so that some of the resin penetrates into the honeycomb and some of the resin also pyrolyzes to form holes in the resin-impregnated cloth layers.

Abstract: A structure, preferably a radome (1) which comprises a honeycomb (11) of ceramic cloth in the form of fused woven fibers bonded with a matrix to provide a ceramic fiber composite. The fibers are quartz and the matrix is a silica matrix. A cloth (13) is impregated with polysiloxane so that the cloth is 65% by weight quartz and 35% by weight polysiloxane. One or more layers of the quartz cloth (13) are disposed over both open ends of the honeycomb, the total thickness of the layers on each side of the honeycomb being 0.06 inches or less. A layer of a paint (15) of polysiloxane with or without specified filler is optionally placed over the outermost layer of the resin impregnated quartz cloth. The radome is fabricated by initially providing the honeycomb, placing the resin-impregnated cloth thereover and then heating so that some of the resin penetrates into the honeycomb and some of the resin also pyrolyzes to form holes in the resin-impregnated cloth layers.

Abstract: A structure, preferably a radome (1) which comprises a honeycomb (11) of ceramic cloth in the form of fused woven fibers bonded with a matrix to provide a ceramic fiber composite. The fibers are quartz and the matrix is a silica matrix. A cloth (13) is impregated with polysiloxane so that the cloth is 65% by weight quartz and 35% by weight polysiloxane. One or more layers of the quartz cloth (13) are disposed over both open ends of the honeycomb, the total thickness of the layers on each side of the honeycomb being 0.06 inches. A layer of a paint (15) of polysiloxane containing titanium dioxide is optionally placed over the outermost layer of the resin impregnated quartz cloth. The radome is fabricated by initially providing the honeycomb, placing the resin-impregnated cloth thereover and then heating so that some of the resin penetrates into the honeycomb and some of the resin also pyrolyzes to form holes in the resin-impregnated cloth layers.

Abstract: A manufacturing device has an outer chamber in which a tool is mounted. The tool is shaped to receive a thermoplastic or staged prepreg. The tool has heaters embedded within it. The chamber region between the tool and the inside wall of the chamber is filled with polysilicone polymer and pressurized to a low pressure such as 50 pounds per square inch. To insure prepreg compaction the chamber is then pressurized in the range of 3,000 pounds per square inch. The chamber to insure prepreg compaction is then pressurized and as is the polysilicone polymer to a pressure in the range of 3,000 psi. At the completion of the temperature/pressure cycle, the cured product is removed from the tool.