Ultralightweight C-SiC composite mirrors

A novel technology to fabricate ultralightweight mirrors was demonstrated. High thermal conductivity C-C composite integrated honeycomb face sheets were fabricated using a tape layup. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVR)-SiC was employed to produce a functionally graded transition in CTE from about 0 ppm/K to about 4.5 ppm/K. A crack free CVR-SiC surface was achieved which was subsequently polished. A 1 kg/m2 SiC mirror structure was demonstrated.