US 7,550,107 B2
Method of forming CMC component
Jay A. Morrison, Oviedo, Fla. (US); and Jay E. Lane, Mims, Fla. (US)
Assigned to Siemens Energy, Inc., Orlando, Fla. (US)
Appl. No. 10/549,024
PCT Filed Jul. 25, 2005, PCT No. PCT/US2005/026339
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Sep. 15, 2005,
PCT Pub. No. WO2007/061398, PCT Pub. Date May 31, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2008/0116614 A1, May 22, 2008
Int. Cl. B28B 1/29 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 264—642  [264/640; 264/641] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite article, the method comprising:
forming a ceramic matrix composite article by stacking a plurality of plies of oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composite material, surfaces of adjacent plies making contact to define a combined thru-thickness dimension;
heating the article to a sintering temperature while applying a thru-thickness pressure against the article;
controlling the pressure during the heating to a level sufficiently high to oppose a separation force developed between adjacent plies by anisotropic shrinkage of the plies in order to maintain contact between respective contacting surfaces; and
controlling the pressure during the heating to a level sufficiently low within a range of greater than 50 psig to less than 750 psig to maintain a desired level of porosity within the article.