Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods for polishing side surfaces of fibers. The system includes a fiber loading mechanism for securing a fiber to the apparatus, a polishing mechanism, and a linear motion mechanism for linearly translating one of the polishing mechanism and the fiber for polishing a side surface of the fiber using the polishing mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods for polishing side surfaces of fibers. The system includes a fiber loading mechanism for securing a fiber to the apparatus, a polishing mechanism, and a linear motion mechanism for linearly translating one of the polishing mechanism and the fiber for polishing a side surface of the fiber using the polishing mechanism.

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: A method of making a mechanically stable, fiber having an inclusion of ion-conducting material which includes the steps of coating a single-crystal or polycrystalline .alpha.-alumina fiber with a zirconia or a hexaluminate precursor, optionally heating the coated fiber to dry the coating, when the coating is applied as a suspension or sol, heating the coated fiber to a temperature of about 1000.degree. to 1800.degree. C. to promote the growth of alpha-alumina toothlike extensions in the coating and epitaxial formation of the zirconia or hexaluminate on the sides of the extensions, embedding the fiber in an .alpha.-alumina matrix material, and heating the resulting fiber-matrix composite to react and texture the coating and densify the assembly.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a continuous fiber which includes (a) a coating composition container having an orifice in the bottom portion thereof; (b) means for introducing coating composition into the coating container; (c) a catch vessel positioned below the orifice in the coating container; (d) means for deflecting excess coating composition flowing through the container orifice into the catch vessel; (e) means for removing coating composition from the catch vessel and returning the same to the coating container; and (f) means for transporting a continuous fiber to be coated through the orifice and the coating composition in the coating container; wherein the orifice in the coating container is of sufficient diameter that the continuous fiber need have no contact therewith, and preferably, has no contact therewith.

Abstract: A method for coating continuous tow which comprises the steps of: (a) transporting a tow through a coating composition to provide a coated tow having a layer of uncured coating thereon, (b) transporting the coated tow through a liquid which is immiscible with the coating composition and (c) curing the coating on the tow to provide a coated tow having a layer of cured coating on the individual filaments thereof, wherein the tow has contact only with the coating composition and the immiscible liquid between the uncoated state of the tow prior to coating step (a) and the cured, coated state of the tow subsequent to curing step (c).

Abstract: An improved method for fabricating ceramic composites, particularly single crystal alumina fiber and yttrium-aluminum garnet (YAG) matrix composites. The method of this invention comprises the steps of (a) coating the fiber with a metal which is stable under oxidizing conditions, such as Pd, (b) coating the metal-coated fiber with a fugitive phase, such as Mo, (c) incorporating the coated fiber into a matrix material, (d) densifying the fiber-matrix into a composite and (e) heat treating the composite under oxidizing conditions to remove the fugitive phase.

Abstract: Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) can be advantageously employed to uniformly coat or impregnate an array or preform of fibers with a ceramic material. As a result, more efficient methods for making composite materials of superior quality are provided.