Particle erosion of C/C-SiC composites with different Al addition in reactive melt infiltrated Si

Particle erosion of C/C-SiC composites prepared by reactive melt infiltration with different Al addition was studied by gas-entrained solid particle impingement test. SEM, EDS and XRD were performed to analyze the composites before and after erosion. The results indicate that a U shape relationship curve presents between the erosion rates and Al content, and the lowest erosion rate occurs at 40 wt% Al. Except for the important influence of compactness, the increasing soft Al mixed with reactive SiC, namely the mixture located between carbon and residual Si also, plays a key role in the erosion of the C/C-SiC composites through crack deflection, plastic deformation and bonding cracked Si.