UHTC–carbon fibre composites: Preparation, oxyacetylene torch testing and characterisation

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2013-02, Vol.33 (2), p.423-432
• Main Authors: Paul, A., Venugopal, S., Binner, J.G.P., Vaidhyanathan, B., Heaton, A.C.J., Brown, P.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablation; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Ceramics; Impregnation; Matrices; Oxidation; Oxidation resistance; Oxyacetylene; Oxyacetylene torch testing; Silicon carbide; Ultra-high temperature
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2012.08.018

Current generation carbon–carbon (C–C) and carbon–silicon carbide (C–SiC) materials are limited to service temperatures below 1800°C and materials are sought that can withstand higher temperatures and ablative conditions for aerospace applications. One potential materials solution is carbon fibre-based composites with matrices composed of one or more ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs); the latter are intended to protect the carbon fibres at high temperatures whilst the former provides increased toughness and thermal shock resistance to the system as a whole. Carbon fibre–UHTC powder composites have been prepared via a slurry impregnation and pyrolysis route. Five different UHTC compositions have been used for impregnation, viz. ZrB2, ZrB2–20vol% SiC, ZrB2–20vol% SiC–10vol% LaB6, HfB2 and HfC. Their high-temperature oxidation resistance has been studied using a purpose built oxyacetylene torch test facility at temperatures above 2500°C and the results are compared with that of a C–C benchmark composite.