Enhancing tribological performance of C/C–SiC composites via reactive melt infiltration of resin-modified C/C preforms

Optimizing the pore structure of C/C preforms is crucial for fabricating C/C–SiC composites with superior tribological performance via reactive melt infiltration (RMI). In this work, carbons derived from phenol-formaldehyde (PF) and polyimide (PI) were introduced into C/C preforms to engineer the pore architecture. The resulting composites were fabricated by RMI, and their microstructures and tribological properties were systematically characterized. Carbon derived from PF resin exhibits a bulky morphology that tends to block pore channels, thereby limiting silicon infiltration and leading to increased internal defects. In contrast, the lamellar morphology of PI-derived carbon enhances pore connectivity and facilitates silicon infiltration, resulting in a higher bulk density (2.31 g cm⁻³) and fewer structural defects. The PI–C/C–SiC composites promote the formation of nanoscale SiC crystals, producing finer wear debris and facilitating the formation of a stable friction film during sliding, thereby significantly reducing the wear rate to 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁵ m³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹at a load of 40 N. Conversely, PF–C/C–SiC composites predominantly yield coarse SiC grains that are more prone to detachment, which intensifies abrasive wear and increases material loss. These findings underscore the pivotal influence of resin-derived carbon morphology on pore structure optimization and tribological performance, providing valuable insights for the design of high-performance C/C–SiC composites via RMI.