Ceramics composite material

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ceramics composite material. A method of producing the material is also disclosed. Particularly, the invention relates to a ceramics composite material containing crystallized glass as the matrix and fibers or whiskers of ceramics as the reinforcement.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
There has been proposed a composite material of ceramics having a matrix reinforced by dispersing carbon fibers or fibers or whiskers of ceramics such as silicon carbide in granular matrices of ceramic materials having a high melting point such as alumina, zirconia or the like and thereafter sintering these granular matrices at a high temperature (refer to "Ceramics" issued by Yogyo Kyokai, 22(1987) No. 6).
As a method of producing these conventional ceramics composite materials, it has been a general practice to employ ceramics powder as a raw matrix material, mechanically mixing this powder with fibers or whiskers of ceramics in a ball mill or the like, and thereafter sintering the mixture.
When the raw material is thus prepared from ceramics powder, however, it is impossible to sufficiently fill up clearances or interstices between the fibers or whiskers of ceramics with the ceramics powder even by mechanical mixing as the content of the fibers or whiskers of ceramics is increased. As a result, a sufficiently dense sintered body cannot be obtained by sintering, and hence it has been impossible to obtain a satisfactory characteristic such as mechanical strength. Further, mechanical mixing has caused damage and breakage of the fibers or whiskers of ceramics.
Since it is not easy to homogeneously disperse the reinforcement material in the ceramics powder as hereinabove described, the employable reinforcement has been restricted to short fibers or whiskers of ceramics. However, short fibers and whiskers localize any energy dispersion against external loads. Thus, it has been impossible to sufficiently make the best use of the high strength characteristic provided by a mixed reinforcement material, while not much of any characteristic improvement has been attained even if compounding was performed.
On the other hand, there has been studied a method of adhering matrix materials of ceramics to fibers or whiskers of ceramics for serving as the reinforcement, by a CVD process or impregnating the fibers or whiskers in a slurry of ceramics for serving as the matrix and thereafter sintering the same. However, it has been impossible to sufficiently fill up clearances or interstices between the fibers or whiskers, with the matrix material in the CVD process. Further, the method of impregnating the fibers in a slurry has such a disadvantage that moisture etc. contained in the slurry evaporates or volatilizes during the sintering thereby reducing solid residues, thereby easily causing pores in the sintered product.
Thus, in compounding of the matrix material and the reinforcement material, densification of the composite material is difficult as the content of the reinforcement material is increased, and hence the content of the reinforcement has generally remained at 15 to 20 volume percent and 30 volume percent at the most. Accordingly, it has been difficult to obtain a ceramics composite material which is dense and has excellent characteristics such as strength, toughness and the like.
In order to efficiently obtain a machine part such as an engine part or the like through use of such a ceramics composite material, further, a technique is required for forming the same into a desired configuration.
However, since ceramics powder has been employed as a raw matrix material in the conventional forming method, a sintering process is necessarily required similarly to the case of obtaining general ceramics. Further, it has been impossible to use a sintering method at atmospheric pressure since fibers or whiskers of ceramics introduced as the reinforcement material prevent densification of the sintered body.
An attempt has been made for forming a mixture obtained by mixing ceramics powder serving as the raw matrix material and fibers or whiskers of ceramics serving as the reinforcement material, with a mechanical press and sintering the same by hot pressing or the like ("FC Report" issued by Shadan Hojin Nippon Fine Ceramics Kyokai, Vol. 4(1986) No. 6, for example).
Therefore, it has barely been possible to obtain a mere simple configuration such as a plate-type or pole-type one. In order to obtain a configuration of an engine part or the like, for example, it is necessary to cut a portion of a certain configuration from a composite material compact having a simple configuration and finish the same to the final configuration through a step such as grinding with a diamond grindstone or the like. Such operational steps for obtaining the final configuration of the engine part or the like are very costly and constitute a hindrance to the widespread use of ceramics composite materials.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ceramics composite material which has excellent mechanical characteristics such as strength and toughness, and is hence highly reliable, yet not too expensive to make.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a ceramics composite material which is dense and capable of increasing the content of the reinforcement made of fibers or whiskers of ceramics, in order to attain high mechanical characteristics.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a ceramics composite material which is capable of making structural components having a relatively complicated configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the ceramics composite material according to the present invention, crystallized glass is employed for the matrix material, and fibers or whiskers of oxide ceramics excluding CaO are employed for the reinforcement material which is contained in the matrix. In such a composite state, the bond strength between the crystallized glass and the reinforcement at interfaces thereof, is reduced as compared with the material strength of the crystallized glass and as compared to the material strength of the reinforcement material. The term "bond strength" means an external force capable of fracturing the bond when such force is applied to the composite material. The term "material strength" means ultimate or fracturing strength.
In order to obtain the aforementioned ceramics composite material, basically the following steps are carried out. The fibers or whiskers of oxide ceramics excluding CaO are impregnated with softened or molten original glass for forming crystallized glass thereby compounding the same, and thereafter crystallizing the original glass. According to the present invention, the matrix is formed of crystallized glass, which has a mechanical strength and heat resistance is equivalent to or higher than that of structural ceramics such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2 or the like. Since glass has a high impregnating ability for fibers or whiskers of ceramics, clearances or interstices between the fibers or whiskers of ceramics can be easily and completely filled up by impregnation of the fibers or whiskers with the glass in a softened or molten state. Thus, it is possible to obtain a ceramics composite material having a high content of reinforcement, whereby the composite material becomes dense and flawless.
It is believed that the increase in toughness caused by compounding results from the following two effects. First, a composite material obtained by combining dissimilar materials is not uniform in strength distribution throughout its volume, and hence cracks are going to progress in portions which are inferior in strength, and the cracks are dispersed. Thus, a crack deflection effect is attained to improve the toughness by increasing the energy which is required for fracturing. Second, it is necessary to break fibers or pull out the same by the width of the cracks so that cracks having a certain width progress from interfaces between the fibers and the matrix. Thus, a pull-out effect is attained to improve the toughness since a larger energy is required for fracturing.
According to the present invention, the bond strength at interfaces between the crystallized glass, serving as the matrix and the reinforcement material is made smaller than both the material strength of the crystallized glass and the material strength of the reinforcement material. This bond strength is selected, because it has been found that cracks are propagated through the crystallized glass or propagated to partially break the fibers or whiskers if the bond strength at the interfaces between the crystallized glass and the reinforcement exceeds the fracture strength levels of the aforementioned respective materials, and hence the aforementioned pull-out effect will not effectively act, whereby the fracture toughness is abruptly reduced.
The bond strength at the interfaces can be adjusted by a temperature treatment applied when the original glass for forming crystallized glass is compounded with the fibers or whiskers of oxide ceramics excluding CaO. The temperature for attaining a preferable bond strength at the interfaces is varied with the types of crystallized glass and the fibers or whiskers of ceramics.
The crystallized glass employed in the present invention is glass which is made crystalline through heat treatment, irradiation of ultraviolet rays or the like. It is preferable to employ Li.sub.2 O--SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Na.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2, MgO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2, PbO--ZnO--B.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZnO--B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2 --B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --MgO--K.sub.2 O--F or the like, which is excellent in strength and heat resistance, to form the crystallized glass.
Common glass has a low heat resistance since its softening point is low, and its flexural strength is about 5 to 10 kg/mm.sup.2, while the heat resistance is greatly improved and the strength is improved to about 30 to 60 kg/mm.sup.2 by crystallization. These characteristics of the crystallized glass are sufficient to apply such glass as a structural material, and hence such crystallized glass is often called "glass ceramics".
Further, glass has a melting point of about 600.degree. to 1300.degree. C., which is lower than the sintering temperature of ceramics powder, 1400.degree. to 1700.degree. C. in the case of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, for example, and hence the matrix material does not degrade the ceramics serving as the reinforcement material, when the reinforcement material is impregnated in the form of fibers or whiskers of ceramics having a maximum heat-resisting temperature of 1200.degree. to 1300.degree. C., by the matrix material in a molten state. The crystallizing temperature of glass is further lower than its melting temperature.
Since the crystallized glass has an oxidizability, the surfaces of fibers are so easily degraded that the fibers are oxidized to generate SiO.sub.2, when non-oxide fibers such as SiC are employed as the reinforcement, for example. In order to prevent such degradation thereby sufficiently effectuating the characteristics of the reinforcement, the invention employs reinforcing fibers of whiskers of oxide ceramics excluding CaO, having a large oxidation resistance. Preferably, oxide ceramics are used for the reinforcing fibers or whiskers containing oxygen of at least 10 percent by weight of the reinforcing fibers or whiskers material.
For producing the composite material according to the present invention long fibers of ceramics having a fiber length of at least 10 cm, can be introduced into the molten matrix material with no damage to the fibers while maintaining the lengths of the fibers since mechanical mixing as hereinabove described, is not particularly required. Consequently, resistance against external loads and dispersion of energy are achieved by the relatively long fibers, whereby strength and fracture toughness of the composite material are further improved.
According to the present invention, the content of the reinforcement in the ceramics composite material can be easily increased to at least 50 volume percent. Particularly according to a method of impregnating the reinforcement with original glass which is in a softened or molten state under pressurization while simultaneously forcing out an excess proportion thereof from the reinforcement, the content of the reinforcement can be easily increased to at least 70 volume percent. According to this method, a composite material which is dense since it does not have voids can be easily obtained. Thus, increasing the content of the reinforcement in the dense state directly results in an improvement in the mechanical strength and fracture toughness of the composite material.
The aforementioned pressurization can be performed by hot pressing, pressure casting or the like, and the degree of pressurization can be appropriately set in response to the content of the reinforcement material in the composite material to be obtained.
In the present invention, it does not matter what states the fibers or whiskers of the ceramics employed for the reinforcement are in when the same are added. They may remain in the states of fibers or whiskers, for example, or they may be previously brought into preform modes or previously provided in the form of a sheet such as a woven fabric, if needed.
According to the present invention, for compounding, basically employed is the method of impregnating the reinforcement with the original glass for forming the crystallized glass in a softened or molten state to crystallize the original glass after compounding, as hereinabove described. With this method it is possible to form a ceramics composite material by compounding the original glass to be transformed into crystallized glass and the reinforcement, forming the same into a prescribed configuration at a temperature causing viscous flow of the original glass and thereafter crystallizing the original glass. In this forming method, the original glass and the reinforcement may be compounded at random or may be compounded in a laminate state. Further, the composite substance may be obtained by bringing the original glass into a softened or molten state and then impregnating the reinforcement material with the molten glass, or impregnating the reinforcement material with the molten glass under pressurization. Then, the composite substance is formed into a desired configuration by bringing the original glass into a viscous flowing state by heating the same. This forming step is generally carried out by introducing the composite substance into a mold having a configuration corresponding to the prescribed configuration, and performing a hot mold pressing. In forming into a hollow configuration such as that of a cylindrical body provided with a bottom, etc., a method of pressing the composite substance against the inner surface of a mold by introducing a high-pressure gas into the interior of the mold for the forming, is advantageously applied. In the case of forming the composite substance into a cylindrical configuration, it is advantageous to form the composite material into a sheet and cylindrically rolling the sheet into the cylindrical shape. Particularly, in forming into a relatively complicated configuration such as a hollow configuration or the like, it is preferable to first preform the composite substance to a configuration close to the desired configuration and then to apply a finishing steps.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Experimental Example
Ceramics whiskers (0.5 .mu.m in diameter) of alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) were mixed with original glass powder having a 2.0 .mu.m average particle size for forming MgO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass, and after application of a dry pressing, the original glass was molten and the whiskers were impregnated by the molten glass in a HIP process, thereby compounding the same. The content of the whiskers was adjusted to 60 volume percent by forcing out an excess portion of the original glass while applying the HIP process.
In the aforementioned operation, the temperature for compounding was varied within a range of 1000.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. in order to vary the bond strength at the interfaces of the crystallized glass and the whiskers. Then, the original glass was heated to 900.degree. C. for crystallization, thereby producing the ceramics composite material.
The obtained ceramics composite material had a flexural strength [kg/mm.sup.2 ] and a fracture toughness value [MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2 ] measured by the indentation method, depending on the HIP or compounding temperature as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1______________________________________Compounding Fracture ToughnessTemperature Flexural Strength Value______________________________________1100 64 22.41200 75 18.51300 63 6.31400 54 2.3______________________________________
With the compounding temperatures of 1100.degree. to 1200.degree. C., cracks after strength tests were mainly propagated through the interfaces between the crystallized glass and the ceramics whiskers, and the fracture toughness had rather high values. This means that the bond strength at the interfaces is lower than the material strength levels of the respective materials. With the compounding temperatures of 1300.degree. to 1400.degree. C., on the other hand, cracks were mainly propagated through the crystallized glass such that parts thereof progressed while breaking the whiskers, and the fracture toughness had low values. This means that the bond strength at the interfaces is higher than the material strength levels of the respective materials.
Experimental Example 2
A woven fabric made of ceramics fibers, 3 .mu.m in diameter, of mullite (3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.2SiO.sub.2) and original glass powder having an average particle size of 3.0 .mu.m for forming Li.sub.2 O--SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 crystallized glass, were stacked, and compounded by melting/impregnating the original glass powder into the woven fabric at 1200.degree. C. and pressurized by hot pressing. Then, the impregnated original glass was crystallized at a temperature of 800.degree. C., to produce several ceramics composite materials having matrices of crystallized glass and different fiber contents.
The flexural strength and fracture toughness values for these materials were measured by the indentation method similarly as for Experimental Example 1. Table 2 shows the result of the measurement.
TABLE 2______________________________________Fiber Content Fracture Toughnessvol. % Flexural Strength Value______________________________________10 55 2.530 62 3.040 67 3.550 85 10.560 87 17.470 85 25.6______________________________________
The composite materials having a fiber content of 50 to 70 volume percent exhibited particularly excellent strength values, as well as greatly improved fracture toughness values. Further, cracks after strength tests, were propagated in the interfaces between the crystallized glass and the ceramics fibers, to show that the bond strength values at the interfaces were lower than the material strength levels of the respective materials.
When the compounding temperature was changed to 1300.degree. C. or more, from 1200.degree. C. in the above Experimental Example 2, the fracture toughness values were abruptly lowered to exhibit values of 5.3 with a fiber content of 50 volume percent, 4.8 with 60 volume percent and 5.2 with 70 volume percent. Cracks of these composite materials were mainly propagated through the crystallized glass, and parts thereof progressed while breaking the ceramics fibers.
Experimental Example 3
A woven fabric formed of continuous fibers of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a diameter of 5 .mu.m and a tensile strength of 200 kg/mm.sup.2, and a mat-type compact formed of short fibers of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having lengths within the range of 0.5 to 2.0 cm were used as the reinforcement material, and subjected to a heat treatment in atmospheric pressure and at 1200.degree. C. for three hours in the presence of original glass powder, having a particle size of not more than 100 mesh, for forming MgO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass containing TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2 and SnO.sub.2. The heat treatment melted the original glass powder, whereby the reinforcement material was impregnated by the glass melt. Thereafter the original glass was crystallized at 1100.degree. C., to precipitate crystalline phases mainly formed of cordierite phases. The so made composite materials were tested for their flexural strength and fracture toughness values similarly to Experimental Example 1. Table 3 shows the results of the measurement.
TABLE 3______________________________________ Flexural FractureReinforcement Crystalization Strength Toughness______________________________________Woven Fabric of no 20 9Relatively LongFibersWoven Fabric of yes 110 18Relatively LongFibersShort Fiber Mat yes 45 8______________________________________
From the results shown in Table 3, it is understood that strength and fracture toughness are greatly improved by crystallizing the glass forming the matrix, and that the matrices of the same crystallized glass are made superior in strength and fracture toughness when the fibers contained therein are relatively long fibers.
Experimental Example 4
Original glass powder having a particle size of not more than 200 mesh to form Li.sub.2 O--SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 crystallized glass, was mixed with water to prepare a slurry, and tapes obtained by unidirectionally shaping long fibers of ZrO.sub.2, were successively dipped into the slurry and then extracted, stacked, and dried. At this time the fiber content was adjusted to 50 volume percent of the composite material.
Thereafter, the dried laminate was heated to 1400.degree. C. in atmospheric air to melt/impregnate the glass in the fibers for compounding. A heat treatment for crystallization was performed at 900.degree. C.
The composite material thus obtained exhibited respective values of 110 kg/mm in flexural strength and 19.5 MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2 in fracture toughness.
Experimental Example 5
Woven fabrics formed of long fibers of SiC, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and SiO.sub.2 respectively were employed as the reinforcement material and subjected to a heat treatment in atmospheric air at 1150.degree. C. for three hours, in the presence of original glass powder having a particle size of not more than 100 mesh for forming MgO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass containing TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2 and SnO.sub.2. The heat treatment melted the original powder and the melted glass impregnated the reinforcement material. Thereafter the glass was crystallized at 900.degree. C., to obtain composite materials. The strength and fracture toughness values were measured by the same processes as those of Experimental Example 1. Table 4 shows the results of the measurement.
TABLE 4______________________________________Reinforcement Fracture ToughnessFiber Flexural Strength Value______________________________________SiC 5 2.5Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 3 3.0SiO.sub.2 60 13.0______________________________________
In the composite materials employing SiC and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, which are non-oxide ceramics, as the fibers for the reinforcements, the fibers were degraded by the crystallization of the glass, and the strength and fracture toughness values thereof exhibited rather low values. On the other hand, no degradation of the fibers as described above was noticed in the composite material employing fibers of SiO.sub.2, which is an oxide ceramics material, as the reinforcement, while the same exhibited high values in strength and fracture toughness as shown in Table 4.
Experimental Example 6
30 layers of plain weave fabrics of ceramics fibers mainly composed of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and having diameters within the range of 2 to 3 .mu.m and a tensile strength of 200 kg/mm, and 30 layers of original glass powder having an average particle size of 10.5 .mu.m for forming MgO--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass containing TiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2, were alternately stacked. The volume of voids observed when 30 layers of the woven fabrics employed herein were stacked and pressurized at a pressure of 15 kg/cm.sup.2, was 85 cm.sup.3, while the actual volume of the employed original glass powder was 655 cm.sup.3.
The laminate obtained in the aforementioned manner was preheated in a hot press at 1200.degree. C. for one hour and thereafter pressurized in a direction orthogonal to the woven fabrics, at a pressure of 15 kg/cm.sup.2, and such pressurization was continued for 1.5 hours until no excess original glass was discharged from an exhaust port provided in a lower part of the mold. The material thus obtained was cooled and thereafter the original glass was crystallized at 1000.degree. C., to produce a ceramics composite material having a matrix of crystallized glass.
The obtained ceramics composite material had a fiber content of 75 volume percent, a flexural strength of 85 kg/mm.sup.2, and a fracture toughness value of 23.5 MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2.
Experimental Example 7
50 layers of prepreg sheets of ceramics fibers mainly composed of SiO.sub.2 and having diameters of 3 .mu.m and tensile strength of 150 kg/mm.sup.2, and 50 layers of original glass powder having an average particle size of 5.0 .mu.m for forming LiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass, were alternately stacked. The volume of voids observed when 50 layers of the prepreg sheets employed herein were pressurized at a pressure of 30 kg/cm.sup.2, was 150 cm.sup.3, while the actual volume of the original glass powder employed herein was 750 cm.sup.3.
The laminate thus obtained was preheated in a HIP apparatus at 1200.degree. C. for one hour, and thereafter pressurized with argon gas under a pressure of 2000 kg/cm.sup.2. An excess portion of the original glass was forced out into the outer peripheral portion of the composite thus obtained. The entire composite was cooled and thereafter the forced-out part of the original glass was removed, while the original glass was crystallized at 800.degree. C. to produce a ceramics composite material having a matrix of crystallized glass.
The obtained ceramics composite material had a fiber content of 85 volume percent, a flexural strength of 95 kg/mm.sup.2, and a fracture toughness value of 24.7 MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2.
Experimental Example 8
Original glass powder having an average particle size of 1.5 .mu.m for forming LiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass was heated/impregnated in a mat-type woven fabric of alumina fibers having an average diameter of 3.0 .mu.m mainly composed of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 to compound the two materials. A sheet-type preform of this composite was introduced into a mold of inconel and heated to 1100.degree. C. for hot press forming. The time required for the forming was 10 .mu.minutes for preheating and 15 seconds for hot pressing. This is an extremely short time as compared with sintering of ceramics powder. The compact was formed in accordance with the configuration of the mold by viscous flow, with no defects such as cracks.
Then, this compact was crystallized at 800.degree. C. for 60 minutes, to obtain a ceramics composite material having a matrix of crystallized glass. The so obtained ceramics composite material had a flexural strength of 30 kg/mm and a fracture toughness value of 15 MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2 with a dimensional error of not more than .+-.0.5%, while its surface state was smooth and required no specific surface finish working.
Experimental Example 9
Three layers of mat-type woven fabrics of mullite fibers having an average particle size of 2.0 .mu.m, and three layers of original glass having an average particle size of 1.5 .mu.m for forming LiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass were alternately stacked. A sheet-type preform of 100 mm in width formed of this laminate was heated to 1200.degree. C., and rolled from an end while applying tensile force, to obtain a pipe-type body of 30 mm in diameter and a wall thickness of 4 mm. The time required for forming was five minutes including preheating, while no defects were caused by the forming.
Thereafter this body was crystallized at 850.degree. C. for 35 minutes, to obtain a ceramics composite material having a matrix of crystallized glass. This ceramics composite material had a flexural strength of 45 kg/mm and a fracture toughness value of 14 MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2.
Experimental Example 10
A mat-type woven fabric of alumina fibers having an average diameter of 3.0 .mu.m was preformed into a configuration close to the configuration of a hollow bottle such as a beer bottle, and original glass powder having an average particle size of 5.0 .mu.m for forming LiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 crystallized glass, was heated and the fibers were impregnated with the glass to form the composite. A preform of this composite, having the configuration of a hollow bottle, was introduced into a mold of stainless steel having a corresponding configuration of a hollow bottle and heated to 1000.degree. C. Simultaneously, a high pressure gas was introduced into the interior of the mold to press the softened preform against the inner surface of the mold. A gas pressure of 100 kg/mm was sufficient for this purpose to form a bottle by a viscous flow. The time required for forming was 10 minutes including preheating. Defects were not caused by the forming.
Thereafter this compact was crystallized at 900.degree. C. for 15 minutes, to obtain a ceramics composite material having a matrix of crystallized glass. This ceramics composite material had a flexural strength of 40 kg/mm.sup.2, a fracture toughness of 16 MN.multidot.m.sup.-3/2, and exhibited no creep deformation up to 1000.degree. C.
When the preform of the composite was not preformed to a configuration close to the final configuration, cracking of the preform was easily caused at corner portions during the subsequent final forming resulting frequently in defects.
The composite material according to the present invention is suitable for employment as a heat-resistant structural material, such as a material for an engine made of ceramics.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific example embodiments it will be appreciated that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.

Number	Date	Country
63-182715	Jul 1988	JPX
63-192421	Aug 1988	JPX
63-214619	Aug 1988	JPX
63-272375	Oct 1988	JPX

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4780432	Minford et al.	Oct 1988
4853350	Chen et al.	Aug 1989
4892846	Rogers et al.	Jan 1990
4897370	Horiguchi et al.	Jan 1990
4919991	Gadkavee	Apr 1990
4935387	Beall et al.	Jun 1990

Ceramics composite material

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Article entitled "Manufacture of glass composites reinforced with long and short fibers by extrusion.sup.1)," Original Paper pp. 143-148, by E. Roeder et al.; (Glastech. Ber. 61 (1988) Nr. 5.
Ceramics, by Yogyo Kyokai, 22 (1987), No. 6.
FC Report by Shadan Hojin Nippon Fine Ceramics Kyokai, Vo. 4, (1986) No. 6.