MATERIALS ELSEVIER Materials Characterization 58(2007)922-927 Non-destructive testing of satellite nozzles made of carbon fibre ceramic matrix composite, C/SiC J Rebelo Kornmeier a,.M. Hofmann .S. Schmidt Technische Universitat Miinchen, ZWE, FRM-lL, Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, Lichtenbergstr: I D-85747 Garching, germany EADS-Space-Transportation, Willy-Messerschmi-StrD-85521 Minchen, Germany Received 25 January 2006: received in revised form 14 September 2006: accepted 18 September 2006 bstract Carbon fibre ceramic matrix composite materials, C/SiC, are excellent candidates as lightweight structural material performance hot structures such as in aerospace applications. Satellite nozzles are manufactured from C/SiC, using, for instance, the Liquid Polymer Infiltration(LPD) process. In this article the applicability of different non-destructive analysis methods for the characterisation of C/Sic components will be discussed. By using synchrotron and neutron tomography it is possible to characterise the C/SiC material in each desired location or orientation. Synchrotron radiation using tomography on small samples with a resolution of 1. 4 um, i.e. the fibre scale, was used to characterise three dimensionally fibre orientation and integrity, matrix homogeneity and dimensions and distributions of micro pores. Neutron radiation tomography with a resolution of about 300 um was used to analyse the over-all C/SiC satellite nozzle component with respect to the fibre content. The special solder connection of a C/SiC satellite nozzle to a metallic ring was also successfully analysed by neutron tomography. In addition, the residual stress state of a temperature tested satellite nozzle was analysed non-destructively in depth by neutron diffraction. The results revealed almost zero stress for the principal directions radial, axial and tangential, which can be considered to be the principal directions. c2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: C/SiC; Neutron; Synchrotron; Tomography 1. Introduction aggressive environments. SiC has an excellent high L.I. Why use C/SiC fibre ceramic matrix composite density, good oxidation resistance and high hardness material in the aerospace industry? however, it is also notch-sensitive and low in toughness. Composites consisting of carbon fibres embedded in a Silicon carbide(Sic) offers great potential for SiC matrix combine the elevated mechanical properties tructural applications in the aerospace industry which of carbon fibres with the high oxidation resistance of the requires structural materials for high temperatures and SiC matrix. In addition to high strength due to load transfer from the SiC matrix to the fibres and higl fracture toughness energy can be absorbed by fibre pull il address: joana. kommeier(@fnma tum. de out from the SiC matrix, causing crack deflection or 044-5803/S-see front matter o 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.06 matcha.200609.010Non-destructive testing of satellite nozzles made of carbon fibre ceramic matrix composite, C/SiC J. Rebelo Kornmeier a,⁎, M. Hofmann a , S. Schmidt b a Technische Universität München, ZWE, FRM-II, Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, Lichtenbergstr. 1, D-85747 Garching, Germany b EADS-Space-Transportation, Willy-Messerschmitt-Str.D-85521 München, Germany Received 25 January 2006; received in revised form 14 September 2006; accepted 18 September 2006 Abstract Carbon fibre ceramic matrix composite materials, C/SiC, are excellent candidates as lightweight structural materials for high performance hot structures such as in aerospace applications. Satellite nozzles are manufactured from C/SiC, using, for instance, the Liquid Polymer Infiltration (LPI) process. In this article the applicability of different non-destructive analysis methods for the characterisation of C/SiC components will be discussed. By using synchrotron and neutron tomography it is possible to characterise the C/SiC material in each desired location or orientation. Synchrotron radiation using tomography on small samples with a resolution of 1.4 μm, i.e. the fibre scale, was used to characterise three dimensionally fibre orientation and integrity, matrix homogeneity and dimensions and distributions of micro pores. Neutron radiation tomography with a resolution of about 300 μm was used to analyse the over-all C/SiC satellite nozzle component with respect to the fibre content. The special solder connection of a C/SiC satellite nozzle to a metallic ring was also successfully analysed by neutron tomography. In addition, the residual stress state of a temperature tested satellite nozzle was analysed non-destructively in depth by neutron diffraction. The results revealed almost zero stress for the principal directions, radial, axial and tangential, which can be considered to be the principal directions. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: C/SiC; Neutron; Synchrotron; Tomography 1. Introduction 1.1. Why use C/SiC fibre ceramic matrix composite material in the aerospace industry? Silicon carbide (SiC) offers great potential for structural applications in the aerospace industry which requires structural materials for high temperatures and aggressive environments. SiC has an excellent high temperature strength and elasticity modulus, low density, good oxidation resistance and high hardness, however, it is also notch-sensitive and low in toughness. Composites consisting of carbon fibres embedded in a SiC matrix combine the elevated mechanical properties of carbon fibres with the high oxidation resistance of the SiC matrix. In addition to high strength due to load transfer from the SiC matrix to the fibres and high fracture toughness energy can be absorbed by fibre pull￾out from the SiC matrix, causing crack deflection or blunting. Materials Characterization 58 (2007) 922–927 ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: joana.kornmeier@frm2.tum.de (J. Rebelo Kornmeier). 1044-5803/$ - see front matter © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.matchar.2006.09.010