Indirect Rapid Manufacturing of Silicon Carbide Composites

The applications of SLS, like many other rapid§prototyping technologies, are limited by the§properties of commercially available materials. The§powdered materials that have been demonstrated§include polymer blends and polymer binder systems§that produce porous parts. §Despite advantages in material stiffness, fabrication§challenges limit the use of particulate reinforced§composites. §In this dissertation a new binder for SLS processing§is developed along with strategies for machining,§polymer infiltration and metal infiltration of the§porous preforms. Where material properties are§established after SLS processing the overall process§is called, indirect. Examined together, these§processes form a fabrication method that improves the§material set available for rapid manufacturing and§also provides a means of forming parts from§particulate reinforced composites.§The concurrent development of a company and funding§from a Texas Technology Development and Transfer§Grant and the NCIIA made technology transfer an§inherent part of this project.