Numerical simulation of temperature field in thermal gradient CVI process for carbon/carbon composites

The principle and advantage of thermal gradient chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) technology for preparation of carbon/carbon composites are illuminated. The temperature gradient in preforms was measured and the plot of temperature gradient via position was presented and discussed. The simplifying 2D axial symmetric geometry model and the energy transport balance equations including heat conduction, convection and radiation were built, respectively. The simulation by the finite element method with the aim to describe the temperature field of the thermal gradient CVI processes for carbon/carbon composites had been performed. The simulated temperature fields were compared with the experimental measure values.