Reducing wear between structural fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite automotive engine parts in sliding contacting relationship

• US 6,265,078 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Atmur, Steven Donald, Strasser, Thomas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOUNG, BRYANT L
• Application Number:
  US09/392,921
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 428/446, 428/448, 428/689, 428/698, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 428/908.8
• US Class Current: 428/446
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00353 Sliding parts
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/80 Fibres, filaments, whiskers, platelets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/009 characterised by the material treated
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/4527 Plasma spraying deposition from the gas phase using plasma C04B41/4533
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5031 Alumina
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5037 Clay, Kaolin
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/53 involving the removal of at least part of the materials of the treated article, e.g. etching, drying of hardened concrete C04B41/0036 - C04B41/0054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/81 Coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/0087 Ceramic materials
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2253/16 Fibres

Abstract

Structural ceramic matrix composite material to be employed as automotive engine parts and the like is provided with erosion-resistant qualities in several ways. For one, an erosion-resistant material is applied to the surface as by plasma spraying. The erosion-resistant material can also be mixed with the fibers of the material, particularly near the surface.

Claims

1. A fiber-reinforced system having mechanical wear erosion resistance, said fiber-reinforced system comprising:

a first structural fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite part having a wearing surface;

a second structural fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite part having a wearing surface in sliding contact and mating with said wearing surface of said first structural fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite part; and

mechanical wear erosion-resistant layers, each disposed on said respective wearing surfaces of said first and second parts, wherein said mechanical wear erosion-resistant layers resist mechanical wear erosion of said wearing surfaces due to the sliding contact.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said mechanical wear erosion-resistant layers are at least one of plasma sprayed mullite and alumina.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said wearing surfaces of said first and second structural fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite parts contain grit-blasted divots exposing fiber hairs thereof on said respective wearing surfaces so that said mechanical wear erosion-resistant layers adhere firmly to said respective wearing surfaces.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said wearing surfaces of said first and second structural fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite parts contain a plurality of thin, shallow, close-spaced grooves so that said mechanical wear erosion-resistant layers adhere firmly to said respective wearing surfaces.