Comparison of oxidation behaviors of 3D C/PyC/SiC and SiC/PyC/SiC composites in an O₂-Ar atmosphere

Oxidation behaviors of three-dimensional woven C/PyC/SiC and SiC/PyC/SiC prepared by CVI processing were investigated in an O₂-Ar atmosphere at 600 °C, 900 °C and 1200 °C, respectively, by using thermogravimetric analysis. After machining, both composites should be protected by CVD SiC coating, which was demonstrated effectively in improving the oxidation resistance of both composites. The oxidation behavior of SiC/PyC/SiC was different from that of C/PyC/SiC. The oxidation kinetics of C/PyC/SiC was controlled by the rate of the reaction between carbon and oxygen at 600 °C and by the oxygen diffusion through the coating microcracks at 900 °C. The oxidation kinetics of SiC/PyC/SiC at both 600 °C and 900 °C were assumed to be controlled by the oxygen diffusion through channels of coating and matrix defects and looped pipelines instead of PyC interphase. At 1200 °C, the oxidation was controlled by oxygen diffusion through the SiO₂ scale, which took place mainly on the surfaces of both composites.