Abstract: A sheet comprising a uniformly dispersed coating of silicon carbide whiskers is produced by: (a) deagglomerating a whisker mass; (b) forming a slurry of deagglomerated whiskers; (c) coating the slurry upon a clean surface of the sheet; and (d) driving off the solvent of the slurry.

Abstract: A sheet comprising a uniformly dispersed coating of silicon carbide whiskers is produced by: (a) deagglomerating a whisker mass; (b) forming a slurry of deagglomerated whiskers; (c) coating the slurry upon a clean surface of the sheet; and (d) driving off the solvent of the slurry.

Abstract: Organic fibers are oxidized, ground and blended with a source of silica. Heat treatment of the blend in the range of 1400.degree. to 1700.degree. C. results in the formation of SiC whiskers. Various fibers including PAN, pitch and rayon which can be processed to form carbon and/or graphite fibers can be used as the carbon source. Ashed rice hulls as the source of silica are blended with the chopped fiber to form the SiC whiskers.

Abstract: Silicon carbide whiskers useful for reinforcement of metals are manufactured from SiO.sub.2 and carbon. Rice hulls are ashed in air at approximately 620.degree. C. to obtain amorphous SiO.sub.2, which is then blended with fine particle size carbon. The mixture is rapidly heated under CO atmosphere to 1500.degree. C., and when the temperature reaches that point the CO atmosphere is flushed with argon, the SiC whiskers forming in the argon atmosphere. The product is purified by ashing in air to remove excess carbon and/or washed with HF to remove unreacted SiO.sub.2.