Investigation on the relationship between multilayer architecture and ablation behavior using an oxyacetylene torch

Several multilayer architectures, based on ZrC-SiC system, were fabricated on SiC-coated carbon/carbon composites by plasma spraying and tested using an oxyacetylene torch. A remarkable variance in scale evolution was found in these multilayer coatings, referring to close correlation between multilayer architecture and ablation behavior. The multilayer coating made of consecutive sublayers of ZrC-10, 30, 10 and 70 vol% SiC survived three repeated ablation cycles with mass ablation rate of −0.467 mg/s and linear ablation rate of − 0.411 µm/s. Detailed phase analysis and morphology investigation attributed its preferable ablation performance to the formation of multifunctional scale and modest thermal stress.