Advances in the ablation resistance of C/C composites

Carbon/carbon (C/C) composites are considered the most promising materials for high-temperature structural applications owing to their excellent properties at high temperature. However, oxidation and ablation limits their applications in oxygen-containing environments at ultrahigh temperatures and high-speed gas flows. How to improve oxidation and ablation resistance of the C/C composites has become a critical issue. The methods for improving oxidation and ablation resistance of the C/C composites are reviewed, which mainly focus on optimizing the carbon fiber weave structure, controlling the pyrolytic carbon texture, modifying the matrix, and coating with anti-ablative ceramic layers. Matrix modification and coating technology have been proved to be the two effective ways of dealing with the problem. Development directions on producing oxidation and ablation resistive C/C composites are concentrated on decreasing preparation cost, controlling pyrolytic carbon texture, optimizing compositions of the doped ceramics used in the matrix and the coating layer, and combining matrix modification with an anti-ablation coating.