Effect of in-situ grown SiC nanowires on the mechanical properties of HfC-ZrB₂-SiC modified C/C composites

In order to improve the strength and toughness of the C/C-HfC-ZrB2-SiC composites, uniformly distributed SiC nanowires were in situ grown in C/C preform using a simple precursor infiltration pyrolysis method with ferrocene as catalyst. The SiC nanowires could greatly refine the size of the ultra-high temperature ceramic (HfC-ZrB2-SiC) particles, and make the ceramic particles interconnected with the unitary body. After introducing SiC nanowires, the flexural strength, flexural modulus and fracture toughness of the composites increased by 21%, 29% and 28% respectively, due to interfacial weakening, the deflection of cracks induced by SiC nanowires and the pullout of SiC nanowires. The C/C-HfC-ZrB2-SiC composites with SiC nanowires also displayed good erosion resistance under high velocity Al₂O₃ particle erosion.