Ceramic Matrix Composites Systems
CVD Equipment Corporation supplies process equipment for Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) for both product development or production. CVD Equipment Corporation has decades of experience in providing continuous reel to reel, web coating, or batch processing chemical vapor infiltration and deposition systems for CMCs.
About CMCs
CMCs are light weight, high temperature, corrosion resistant materials that are displacing high nickel super alloys in certain applications. In aircraft engines, CMCs can run hotter, leading to more fuel efficiency and less pollutants. The fuel and maintenance cost savings to commercial air carriers can be substantial. In industrial power turbines, the higher temperature operation of CMC materials leads to a reduction of both emissions and the cost of electricity.
Continuous Substrate Systems
Our deposition and infiltration systems for the development and production of CMCs deposit a wide range of materials, including nitrides, carbides, carbon nanostructures. One example is a continuous production process for chemical vapor infiltration of silicon doped boron nitride onto individual filaments of multiple parallel processed silicon carbide fiber tows. The Si-doped BN is used as an interphase to control the fiber-matrix bonding and transfer load between the fiber and the matrix in such a way that prevents brittle fracturing of the CMCs. More technical information about interphase fiber coatings can be found here:
More information about interphase fiber coatings can be found here: opens in a new windowhttps://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20050179368.pdf
Fixed Substrate Systems
Our deposition systems also deposit functional coatings onto finished CMC parts. We use a low pressure high temperature CVD process to deposit a uniform, conformal, high purity, dense coating on a 3D shaped part. Our multi-chamber systems can increase production throughput by processing multiple chambers in parallel or sequentially. An example of where our equipment is used is in depositing a silicon layer onto a CMC part for aircraft engines. The silicon layer helps to protect the underlying CMC part from oxidation. To round off our capability, we also provide gas delivery and exhaust treatment systems that integrate with the deposition system to achieve a turnkey operation.
System Features & Options
As a part of our product line, CVD Equipment Corporation supplies continuous (reel to reel, web coating) fiber coating systems that are used in the process development and production of CMCs. Our proprietary technology includes:
- Atmospheric or low pressure roll to roll and fixed substrate processing systems
- Process temperatures >1400 °C
- De-spool and spool modules with drive motors that are isolated from the process environment
- Intelligent Unwind and Wind – optical sensing and automatic linear actuated positioning for aligning the payout from the bobbins to minimize rubbing / abrasion during payout and spooling.
- Low tension closed loop control – automatic feedback control of tension down to 10 grams
- Parallel processing of multiple spools
- Multiple process chambers operating in parallel or in sequence to increase production throughput
- Full system integration, including fiber handling, deposition chambers, vacuum systems, process gas delivery systems, exhaust gas conditioning systems, and safety & controls systems
- Real time data logging and graphing
- Productivity support with tailored service contracts
powered by CVDWinPrC™
Operated through our CVDWinPrC™ process control software, the systems automatically log data and graphically show time-dependent values of user-selected parameters. CVDWinPrC™ also allows users to load preprogrammed recipes, modify, check and create new recipes, and view realtime or saved process data.
Safety Protocols
The systems have application configured safety protocols embedded into relay logic, PLC, and CVDWinPrC™ software.
