CeraNova (United States)

CeraNova will present a review of its work to address processing, properties, and manufacturability challenges for multiple transparent ceramic materials. The high strength and high optical quality of CeraNova’s materials provide significant performance advantages for systems operating in the most demanding environments. CeraNova’s proprietary methods deliver controlled micro-structure and high phase purity for several material systems. CeraNova is developing scaled-up processing, advanced manufacturing, and quality management systems for improved yields and reduced costs. CeraNova is also expanding its materials and product offerings to address the needs of advanced systems such as hypersonic vehicles and directed energy weapons systems.

Samples of fine-grain, transparent polycrystalline alumina (CeraNova Corp) and multispectral zinc sulfide (Cleartran) were tested to determine mechanical strength and slow crack growth parameters. Mechanical strength measurements of coupons were fit to a Weibull equation that describes the material strength and its distribution. Slow crack growth parameters were calculated using the procedure set forth by Weiderhorn. 1 This paper describes the derivation of Weibull and slow crack growth parameters from strength measurements over a range of stress rates and how these parameters are used to predict window lifetime under stress. Proof testing is employed to ensure that a window begins its life with a known, minimum strength.

Lead-based PMN-31PT and lead-free BNBZT fibers in the 250- 500 micrometer diameter range were produced using CeraNova's proprietary extrusion technology. Various recrystallization approaches were investigated, including seeded solid state conversion and self-seeded texturing, with the goal of obtaining single-crystalline or textured macrocrystalline fibers. Grains in excess of 100 micrometers - and exceeding 1 mm in some cases - with surface and bulk coverage approaching 100 percent, were obtained in a narrow temperature range and under carefully controlled atmosphere conditions. Large grain growth in BNBZT required the presence of BaSrTiO<SUB>3</SUB> or SrTiO<SUB>3</SUB> seeds and temperatures in the 1150-1200 degrees C range. In PMN-31PT, nearly compete recrystalline was observed in unseeded material at relatively low temperature and short time, and improved performance was achieved with a two-step sintering schedule and slightly extended time. While conduction effects have not yet allowed compete assessment of recrystalline BNBZT, PMN-31PT fibers have shown excellent piezoelectric properties with remanent polarization in excess of 30(mu) C/cm<SUP>2</SUP> and coercive field of 4.5kV/cm. When incorporated into active fiber composites, the latter fibers' performance of 2000 microstrain in superior to average PZT-based production composites. Efforts are under way to induce preferred orientation in the large crystal in order to maximize performance.