Abstract: An uncooled turbine outer air is comprised of a combination of monolithic ceramics with high temperature capability and oxidation and creep resistance, and a fiber reinforced ceramic composite with high fracture toughness. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fiber reinforced ceramic composite of silicon carbide and aluminum borosilicate is infiltrated by chemically vapor deposited silicon carbide. The infiltration process is continued until the composite develops a monolithic layer of silicon carbide. An additional layer is deposited on the monolithic ceramic to provide additional thermal protection.

Abstract: A porous substrate of a fuel cell electrode assembly is formed by producing a fibrous carbon precursor web by means of a conventional wet paper-making process. The precursor web is then dried and saturated with a wet resinous binder which will carbonize when heated. Substantially the entirety of all of the carbon fibers in the web are thus coated with the binder, and substantially all of the inter-fiber junctures in the web will also be coated with the binder. The saturated web is then dried, and heat treated to convert the binder to a glassy carbon which exhibits superior resistance to corrosion.

Abstract: A porous substrate of a fuel cell electrode assembly is formed by producing a fibrous carbon precursor web by means of a conventional wet paper-making process. The precursor web is then dried and saturated with a wet resinous binder which will carbonize when heated. Substantially the entirety of all of the carbon fibers in the web are thus coated with the binder, and substantially all of the inter-fiber junctures in the web will also be coated with the binder. The saturated web is then dried, and heat treated to convert the binder to a glassy carbon which exhibits superior resistance to corrosion.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon-graphite component, such as a fuel cell substrate, suited for use in an electrochemical cell includes forming a precursor sheet structure comprising a resin, fibers that are graphitizable, and an inorganic compound containing boron and oxygen. Various details of the method are developed that effect the carbon yield of cellulose fibers used for the precursor sheet and the thermal and the electrical conductivity of the component. In one embodiment, the inorganic compound of boron and oxygen is boric acid.