Nancy-Jean Biller’s research while affiliated with Reutlingen University and other places

The wet-laid nonwoven as a preform manufacturing technique for C/C-SiCs has been pioneered in this study and holds great promises for the field, especially for hybrid materials. The wet-laid nonwovens are compatible with liquid silicon infiltration (LSI), and standalone samples of the wet-laid nonwoven ceramics, as well as a hybrid material, were produced. Through variations in the manufacturing process of the wet-laid nonwoven, the formation of short fiber C/C-SiC (69 % Carbon) and SiSiC (68 % SiC) was possible. Intense characterization (porosity, phase composition, flexural strength, Young's modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity) exhibited similar material properties compared to well-established materials (SGL, Schunk). Wet-laid nonwoven usage allowed an in situ formed hybrid, which eliminates several high-temperature steps of traditional hybrid manufacturing and cuts down costs. It was demonstrated on a real scale component (ceramic brake disc) with a final material paring of C/C-SiC and SiSiC.