Composite material

Abstract

A composite material comprises a matrix material, for example, polyetheretherketone, and a first fibrous material which includes alumina, such as alumina fibres. The material may be used in applications where strength and durability are required, such as in CMP.

1 . A composite material comprising a matrix material and a first fibrous material which includes alumina.  
     
     
         2 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first fibrous material comprises alumina fibres.  
     
     
         3 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first fibrous material comprises alumina fibres having diameters in the range 3 to 10 μm; and includes less than 10% of fibres having a diameter of less than 1 μm.  
     
     
         4 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein greater than 90% of the fibres in said first fibrous material have a diameter in the range 3 to 10 μm.  
     
     
         5 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said matrix material is selected from polyetherketone, polyetheretherketone and polyetherketoneketone.  
     
     
         6 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said matrix material comprises polyetheretherketone.  
     
     
         7 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes at least 40 wt % and 80 wt % or less of said matrix material.  
     
     
         8 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes at least 35 wt % and 60 wt % or less of alumina fibres.  
     
     
         9 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , which comprises a matrix material comprising polyetheretherketone and a first fibrous material which includes alumina fibres, wherein said composite material includes at least 40 wt % of polyetheretherketone and at least 30 wt % of alumina fibres.  
     
     
         10 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a first fibrous material which comprises alumina fibres and a second fibrous material which is fibrillated and comprises a para aramid pulp.  
     
     
         11 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said composite material includes less than 10 wt % of said second fibrous material.  
     
     
         12 . A composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sum of the wt % of all fibrous materials in said composite material is at least 35 wt %.  
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a first component, the method comprising forming the first component from a composite material as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , which includes the step of machining a precursor of said component which precursor comprises a said matrix material and a said first fibrous material, to manufacture said first component.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first component includes an opening which has a diameter of less than 0.1 m.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first component includes a composite material comprising 50 to 70 wt % of polyetheretherketone and 30 to 50 wt % of alumina fibres.  
     
     
         17 . A first component which is a machined component having an opening which has a diameter of less than 0.1 m and which component is made of a composite material comprising 50 to 70 wt % of polyetheretherketone and 30 to 50 wt % of alumina fibres.