Lockheed Martin Corporation
Engineered micro-voids for toughening ceramic composites

Abstract:

A ceramic composite material comprises a ceramic compound, a plurality of shaping particles dispersed in the ceramic compound, and a plurality void spaces dispersed in the ceramic compound. The plurality of shaping particles are contained within the plurality of void spaces, and each of the plurality of void spaces is a closed cell. The plurality of shaping particles also comprise nanostructures have a length to diameter ratio of less than or equal to 10 to 1 and a length of less than or equal to 500 nanometers.