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.