Abstract: A method for forming a porous carbonaceous preform comprises, forming a mixture comprised of up to about 50 volume percent of furfuryl alcohol or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, about 1 to 10 volume percent of a nonionic polyethylene oxide polymer ranging in molecular weight from about 100,000 to 5,000,000, about 30 to 80 volume percent of a carbonaceous material, and the balance water. The mixture is cast to form a body, and heated to decompose the polymer and form the porous preform. A molding composition for carbonaceous material comprises, up to about 50 volume percent of furfuryl alcohol or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, about 1 to 10 volume percent of a nonionic polyethylene oxide polymer ranging in molecular weight from about 100,000 to 5,000,000, about 30 to 80 volume percent of the carbonaceous material, and the balance water.

Abstract: A method for forming a porous carbonaceous preform includes forming a mixture comprised of up to about 50 volume percent of furfuryl alcohol or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, about 1 to 10 volume percent of a nonionic polyethylene oxide polymer ranging in molecular weight from about 100,000 to 5,000,000, about 30 to 80 volume percent of a carbonaceous material, and the balance water. The mixture is cast to form a body, and heated to decompose the polymer and form the porous preform. A molding composition for carbonaceous material includes, up to about 50 volume percent of furfuryl alcohol or tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, about 1 to 10 volume percent of a nonionic polyethylene oxide polymer ranging in molecular weight from about 100,000 to 5,000,000, about 30 to 80 volume percent of the carbonaceous material, and the balance water.

Abstract: Fibrous material is coated with boron nitride and a silicon-wettable material, the coated fibrous material is admixed with an infiltration-promoting material which is at least partly elemental carbon and the mixture is formed into a preform which is infiltrated with molten silicon producing a composite containing boron nitride coated fibrous material.

Abstract: A fiber- and filament-containing ceramic preform comprised of a mixture of discontinuous fibers and particulates surrounding a layer of continuous filaments extending substantially through the mixture is produced and infiltrated with a molten ceramic to produce a composite.

Abstract: A process for producing a moldable ceramic mass which comprises preparing a suspension of ceramic material in a liquid vehicle, said ceramic material being comprised of a mixture of fibers and particulates of a ceramic selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, beryllium oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium carbide, titanium diboride, zirconium carbide and zirconium diboride wherein the volume ratio of fibers to particulates ranges from about 1:5 to about 1:1, said ceramic material being present in an amount greater than about 4% by volume of the suspension, said fibers being present in an amount greater than about 2% by volume of the suspension, and removing a portion of the liquid vehicle in an amount sufficient to produce a moldable mass.

Abstract: A fiber- and filament-containing ceramic preform comprises of a mixture of discontinuous fibers and particulates surrounding a layer of continuous filaments extending substantially through the mixture is procduced and infiltrated with a molten ceramic to produce a composite.

Abstract: A mixture of ceramic filler and a matrix forming silicate and/or aluminosilicate material is compressed at a temperature at which the matrix forming material is molten to produce a composite.

Abstract: A process for producing a slip cast ceramic body which comprises preparing a slip comprised of a suspension of ceramic material in a liquid vehicle, said ceramic material being comprised of a mixture of whiskers and particulates wherein the volume ratio of whiskers to particulates ranges from about 1:5 to about 1:1, said ceramic material being present in an amount greater than 4% by volume of the slip, said whiskers being present in an amount greater than about 2% by volume of said slip, and casting the slip in a porous mold.

Abstract: A composite comprised of a continuous matrix phase having a ceramic filler phase distributed therein is produced by shaping a mixture of ceramic filler and a solid constituent of the matrix into a compact and infiltrating the compact with a molten constituent of the matrix which combines with the solid constituent by dissolution and/or diffusion to produce the matrix in situ.

Abstract: A composite is produced by shaping a ceramic filler into a porous compact and infiltrating the compact with liquid alkaline earth silicate or alkaline earth aluminosilicate.

Abstract: A composite is produced by infiltrating the open pores of a polycrystalline silicon nitride body with a member selected from the group consisting of barium fluoride, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, strontium fluoride, cerium fluoride, dysprosium fluoride, gadolinium fluoride, lanthanum fluoride, samarium fluoride, yttrium fluoride, and a mixture of said fluoride with a metal oxide.

Abstract: A composite is produced by infiltrating the open pores of a polycrystalline silicon nitride body with a member selected from the group consisting of barium fluoride, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, strontium fluoride, cerium fluoride, dysprosium fluoride, gadolinium fluoride, lanthanum fluoride, samarium fluoride, yttrium fluoride, and a mixture of said fluoride with a metal oxide.

Abstract: A composite is produced by forming a porous compact of a ceramic member selected from the group consisting of boron carbide, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, niobium carbide, niobium nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, tantalum carbide, tantalum nitride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, vanadium carbide, vanadium nitride, zirconium carbide and zirconium nitride, and infiltrating the compact with a member selected from the group consisting of barium fluoride, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, strontium fluoride, cerium fluoride, dysprosium fluoride, gadolinium fluoride, lanthanum fluoride, samarium fluoride, yttrium fluoride, and a mixture of said fluoride with a metal oxide.

Abstract: A mixture of alumino-silicate glass and alumina having a composition corresponding to mullite and containing a nucleating mullite powder is hot pressed producing a dense polycrystalline mullite body having an average grain size of less than 15 microns.

Abstract: A mixture of alumino-silicate glass, alumina and filler is hot pressed to produce a mullite composite.

Abstract: A composite is produced by forming a porous compact of a ceramic member selected from the group consisting of boron carbide, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, niobium carbide, niobium nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, tantalum carbide, tantalum nitride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, vanadium carbide, vanadium nitride, zirconium carbide and zirconium nitride, and infiltrating the compact with a member selected from the group consisting of barium fluoride, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, strontium fluoride, cerium fluoride, dysprosium fluoride, gadolinium fluoride, lanthanum fluoride, samarium fluoride, yttrium fluoride, and a mixture of said fluoride with a metal oxide.

Abstract: Infiltration reaction products are provided of molten silicon and certain blends of particulated carbon and various particulated inorganic materials substantially unreactive to molten silicon, such as boron nitride particles. These molten silicon infiltration products of reaction are readily machinable and can be applied, or formed in-situ as contiguous layers on silicon carbide, or silicon-silicon carbide substrates, etc., to produce multilayer composites having an improved impact strength over the base refractory structure.

Abstract: Infiltration reaction products are provided of molten silicon and certain blends of particulated carbon and various particulated inorganic materials substantially unreactive to molten silicon, such as boron nitride particles. These molten silicon infiltration products of reaction are readily machinable and can be applied, or formed in-situ as contiguous layers on silicon carbide, or silicon-silicon carbide substrates, etc., to produce multilayer composites having an improved strength over the base refractory structure.

Abstract: Infiltration reaction products are provided of molten silicon and certain blends of particulated carbon and various particulated inorganic materials substantially unreactive to molten silicon, such as boron nitride particles. These molten silicon infiltration products of reaction are readily machinable and can be applied, or formed in-situ as contiguous layers on silicon carbide, or silicon-silicon carbide substrates, etc., to produce multilayer composites having an improved impact strength over the base refractory structure.

Abstract: A graded filamentary composite article comprises a plurality of densely packed unidirectional elongated high strength reinforcing filamentary material with varying lengths, a second plurality of densely packed unidirectional elongated different filamentary material of varying lengths, such as fibers of boron, carbon, glass and steel, etc., both pluralities of elongated filamentary materials arranged in the same direction and of similar cross-sectional area and with the ends of the varying lengths of opposite filamentary pluralities interleaved with one another, and a thermosetting resin holding the filamentary material in parallel relationship.