FIBER AND PARTICULATE REINFORCED CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED USING THE DIRECTED METAL OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS LOW COST FABRICATION PROCESS OFFERS THE CAPABILITY OF NET OR NEAR NET SHAPE PROCESSING. NICALON FIBER REINFORCED ALUMINA COMPOSITES HAVE DEMONSTRATED LONG TERM STABILITY (GREATER THAN 1000H) UNDER APPLIED STRESS AT TEMPERATURES UP TO 1200 DEGREES C (220 DEGREES F) IN AIR. COMBUSTOR COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ENGINE TESTED TO TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 1500 DEGREES C (2730 DEGREES F). SIC PARTICULATE REINFORCED ALUMINA COMPOSITES HAVE BEEN EXPOSED FOR 5000 H AT 1500 DEGREES C (2730 DEGREES F) IN AIR WITH NO LOSS IN STRENGTH. PARTICULATE COMPOSITE TUBES ARE BEING USED COMMERCIALLY IN HEAT EXCHANGERS OPERATING AT 1400 DEGREES C (2550 DEGREES F).
