Nano- Engineering and Fabrication of Oxide based CMC’s for high temperature applications

To maximise efficiency and minimise emissions, a constant rise in aerospace gas turbine operating temperatures is occurring. Due to stress relaxation by creep, the current metallic superalloys seals have limited capability to maintain adequate gas-seals at higher temperatures, and there is a need for new materials that can operate above 1000°C. A previous project based at Oxford and funded by Cross Manufacturing Ltd, has investigated the suitability of Oxide-Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), for aerospace high temperature sealing applications (10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2021.01.030) and successfully demonstrated the creep resistance of a commercially available CMC (Nextel 720 fibre/alumina matrix) at 1100°C.

This project will use the findings and characterisation techniques developed in the previous project to further optimise the high temperature creep resistance of oxide-oxide ceramic composites by nano-engineering of the matrix microstructure.

The project will involve the fabrication of oxide-oxide composite samples with conventional matrix and oxide-oxide composites that are nano-engineered with the addition of nanoparticles. The composites manufactured will be characterised structurally using electron microscopy and X-ray computed tomography and the mechanical behaviour will be studied by creep relaxation tests at high temperatures.

The project works closely with Cross Manufacturing Ltd and interlinks with another CMC development project in Oxford that has strong industrial links.