Abstract: A method of spreading fiber tows includes applying a coupling medium to a surface of a fibrous structure, positioning an ultrasonic probe adjacent to the surface of a fibrous structure, such that a tip of the ultrasonic probe is in contact with the coupling medium, moving at least one of the ultrasonic probe and the fabric structure relative to the other of the ultrasonic probe and the fibrous structure according to a first pattern, and imparting ultrasonic vibration with the ultrasonic probe to the surface of the fibrous structure while moving the ultrasonic probe along the surface of the fibrous structure. Imparting ultrasonic vibration to the surface of the fibrous structure spreads tows of the fibrous structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coated ceramic fiber including a silicon carbide coating layer adjacent to the ceramic fiber and a silicon dioxide coating layer adjacent to the silicon carbide coating layer, wherein the silicon dioxide coating layer forms micro cracks after a crystal structure transformation. The coated ceramic fiber may be included in a composite material having a ceramic matrix.

Abstract: A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material includes a plurality of coated (core-shell) nanoparticles having nanoparticles of a first material coated with a coating of a second material. The first material and the second material are mutually insoluble and each have a transmissivity of at least 80% for an intended wavelength. The first material and the second material have a difference in index of refraction of less than 25%. The first material and second material have grins with a diameter of less than 1/20th the intended wavelength. The coating of the second material on the nanoparticles of the first material is up to 50 nm thick. The NCOC contains no more than 0.01% voids per unit volume.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying clouds and cloud shadows in satellite imagery are described herein. In an embodiment, a system receives a plurality of images of agronomic fields produced using one or more frequency bands. The system also receives corresponding data identifying cloud and cloud shadow locations in the images. The system trains. a machine learning system to identify at least cloud locations using the images as inputs and at least data identifying pixels as cloud pixels or non-cloud pixels as outputs. When the system receives one or more particular images of a particular agronomic field produced using the one or more frequency bands, the system uses the one or more particular images as inputs into the machine learning system to identify a plurality of pixels in the one or more particular images as particular cloud locations.

Abstract: A reactor furnace for coating fiber tow includes an elongate reactor having a fiber tow inlet and a fiber tow outlet; a thermo-chemical reactor section positioned along the elongate reactor; a first microwave source for directing microwave energy along the reactor from a first end of the reactor toward a second end of the reactor; a second microwave source for directing microwave energy along the reactor from the second end of the reactor toward the first end of the reactor; a gas inlet upstream of the thermo-chemical reactor; and a gas outlet downstream of the thermo-chemical reactor.

Abstract: A tooling fixture is disclosed for densification by chemical vapor infiltration of a fiber preform of a ceramic matrix composite. The tooling fixture includes a body having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces and a plurality of holes extending between the first and second surfaces, and a coating. The first surface is configured to be disposed adjacent to the fiber preform. The coating is disposed on the first surface and surfaces defining the plurality of holes. The coating comprises at least one of a ceramic material, hexagonal boron nitride, turbostratic boron nitride, and graphite.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coated ceramic fiber including a silicon carbide coating layer adjacent to the ceramic fiber and a silicon dioxide coating layer adjacent to the silicon carbide coating layer, wherein the silicon dioxide coating layer forms micro cracks after a crystal structure transformation. The coated ceramic fiber may be included in a composite material having a ceramic matrix.

Abstract: A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material includes a plurality of coated (core-shell) nanoparticles having nanoparticles of a first material coated with a coating of a second material. The first material and the second material are mutually insoluble and each have a transmissivity of at least 80% for an intended wavelength. The first material and the second material have a difference in index of refraction of less than 25%. The first material and second material have grins with a diameter of less than 1/20th the intended wavelength. The coating of the second material on the nanoparticles of the first material is up to 50 nm thick. The NCOC contains no more than 0.01% voids per unit volume.

Abstract: A reactor furnace for coating fiber tow includes an elongate reactor having a fiber tow inlet and a fiber tow outlet; a thermo-chemical reactor section positioned along the elongate reactor; a first microwave source for directing microwave energy along the reactor from a first end of the reactor toward a second end of the reactor; a second microwave source for directing microwave energy along the reactor from the second end of the reactor toward the first end of the reactor; a gas inlet upstream of the thermo-chemical reactor; and a gas outlet downstream of the thermo-chemical reactor.

Abstract: A fixture for processing a ceramic matrix composite article includes first and second tool segments that each have an exterior side and an interior side. The tool segments define there between a working region for holding a fiber preform that is to be densified with a ceramic material. Each of the interior sides has grooves there along for delivering a precursor gas to the working region.

Abstract: A tooling assembly suitable for use in infiltrating a fibrous preform comprises an outer tooling fixture with a plurality of outer sidewalls defining an inner volume, each of the plurality of outer sidewalls having an outer wall thickness, and a window extending through the outer wall thickness of at least one outer sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. The tooling assembly further comprises an inner tooling fixture positioned within the inner volume of the outer tooling fixture, the inner tooling having a plurality of inner sidewalls, each of the plurality of inner sidewalls having an inner wall thickness, and a plurality of holes extending through the inner wall thickness of at least one inner sidewall of the plurality of inner sidewalls. The at least one outer sidewall is positioned adjacent the at least one inner sidewall such that the window overlaps with at least a subset of the plurality of holes in the at least one inner sidewall.

Abstract: A powder cleaning system can include a fluidized bed reactor configured to retain powder and fluidize the powder to remove adsorbate and/or other contaminants from the powder, and one or more gas sources configured to be in selective fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor via at least one inlet line to selectively provide an inlet flow having one or more gases to the fluidized bed reactor to fluidize the powder with the one or more gases within the fluidized bed reactor. The system can include at least one outlet line in fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor and configured to allow removal of outlet flow which comprises the adsorbate and/or other contaminants from the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: A chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) system comprises a reactor with an inlet for receiving a flow of reactive gas and an outlet for exhausting the flow of reactive gas, and plurality of acoustic wave generators disposed to generate acoustic waves within the reactor.

Abstract: A tooling assembly suitable for use in infiltrating a fibrous preform comprises a first perforated plate having an outer surface and an oppositely disposed inner surface defining a plate thickness therebetween, and a plurality of tapered holes extending through the thickness. Each hole of the plurality of tapered holes has a first diameter at the outer surface and a second diameter at the inner surface, and the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

Abstract: A tooling assembly suitable for use in infiltrating a fibrous preform comprises an outer tooling fixture with a plurality of outer sidewalls defining an inner volume, each of the plurality of outer sidewalls having an outer wall thickness, and a window extending through the outer wall thickness of at least one outer sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. The tooling assembly further comprises an inner tooling fixture positioned within the inner volume of the outer tooling fixture, the inner tooling having a plurality of inner sidewalls, each of the plurality of inner sidewalls having an inner wall thickness, and a plurality of holes extending through the inner wall thickness of at least one inner sidewall of the plurality of inner sidewalls. The at least one outer sidewall is positioned adjacent the at least one inner sidewall such that the window overlaps with at least a subset of the plurality of holes in the at least one inner sidewall.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coated ceramic fiber including a silicon carbide coating layer adjacent to the ceramic fiber and a silicon dioxide coating layer adjacent to the silicon carbide coating layer, wherein the silicon dioxide coating layer forms micro cracks after a crystal structure transformation. The coated ceramic fiber may be included in a composite material having a ceramic matrix.

Abstract: A coating for an article includes a seal coat comprising self-healing particles disposed in a seal coat matrix and a bond coat disposed on the seal coat. The bond coat includes a matrix, diffusive particles disposed in the matrix, and gettering particles disposed in the matrix. A coating for an article and a method of applying a coating to an article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition system comprises a reactor including at least one wall extending between an inlet end and an outlet end, and an internal volume defined by the at least one wall, the inlet end, and the outlet end. The reactor further comprises a heat source in thermal communication with the internal volume, and a solid precursor container removably placed within the internal volume. The solid precursor container includes at least one internal cavity for holding an amount of the solid precursor, and an opening fluidly connecting the at least one internal cavity to the internal volume of the reactor. The solid precursor comprises at least one of aluminum, zirconium, hafnium, and a rare earth metallic element.

Abstract: A system for monitoring fuel additives on board a vehicle includes a fuel line carrying fuel from a fuel source to an engine; a fuel additive sensor configured to measure concentration of additives in fuel at a point along the fuel line; a fuel additive dispenser connected in parallel to the fuel line; at least one flow control device for controlling an amount of flow from the fuel line into the fuel additive dispenser; and a controller configured to receive input from the fuel additive sensor and to control the flow control device to adjust the amount of the flow from the fuel line into the fuel additive dispenser.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying clouds and cloud shadows in satellite imagery are described herein. In an embodiment, a system receives a plurality of images of agronomic fields produced using one or more frequency bands. The system also receives corresponding data identifying cloud and cloud shadow locations in the images. The system trains. a machine learning system to identify at least cloud locations using the images as inputs and at least data identifying pixels as cloud pixels or non-cloud pixels as outputs. When the system receives one or more particular images of a particular agronomic field produced using the one or more frequency bands, the system uses the one or more particular images as inputs into the machine learning system to identify a plurality of pixels in the one or more particular images as particular cloud locations.