Oxidation and erosion resistance of MoSi₂-CrSi₂-Si/SiC coated C/C composites in static and aerodynamic oxidation environment

A MoSi₂-CrSi₂-Si multi-composition coating was prepared on the surface of SiC coated carbon/carbon (C/C) composites by pack cementation in argon. The crystalline structure of the multi-composition coating was measured by X-ray diffraction. The morphology and element distribution were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. The isothermal oxidation and erosion resistance of the multi-layer coating were investigated in electrical furnace and high temperature wind tunnel, respectively. These results indicated that the weight loss of the coated C/C composites was only 0.8% after oxidation in air at 1873 K for 500 h, and the sample was fractured after erosion at 1873 K for 32 h in wind tunnel. The weight loss of the coated C/C composites was considered due to the excessive depletion of the outer coating and the appearance of defects in the coating. The mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between the multi-layer coating and C/C composites caused excessive local stress and resulted in the fracture of the coated C/C composites.