Mechanical behavior of 2D C/SiC composites at elevated temperatures under uniaxial compression

As Carbon-fiber-reinforced SiC-matrix (C/SiC) composites are widely used in high-temperature structural applications, its mechanical behavior at high temperature is important for the reliability of structures. In this paper, mechanical behavior of a kind of 2D C/SiC composite was investigated at temperatures ranging from room temperature (20°C) to 600°C under quasi-static and dynamic uniaxial compression. The results show the composite has excellent high temperature mechanical properties at the tested temperature range. Catastrophic brittle failure is not observed for the specimens tested at different strain rates. The compressive strength of the composite deceases only 10% at 600°C if compared with that at room temperature. It is proposed that the decrease of compressive strength of the 2D C/SiC composite at high temperature is influenced mainly by release of thermal residual stresses in the reinforced carbon fiber and silicon carbon matrix and oxidation of the composite in high temperature atmosphere.