Enhanced anti-ablation performance of carbon/carbon composites modified with ZrC-SiC

The ZrC-SiC inhibited carbon/carbon composites (C/C-ZrC-SiC) were fabricated by combining precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) of ZrC and reactive melt infiltration (RMI) of ZrSi₂. The achieved C/C-ZrC-SiC composites exhibited an unusual microstructure. The dense ZrC-SiC matrix formed by RMI was distributed in the fiber webs. The ZrC-C matrix developed by PIP and isothermal chemical vapor infiltration (ICVI) was uniformly distributed in the non-woven layers. After ablation under oxyacetylene torch, C/C-ZrC-SiC composites exhibited a desirable ablation resistance. The formed ZrO₂ with a framework structure acted as the barrier to effectively shield the ablation heat and withstand mechanical denudation of high speed flame stream. In the brim region of the ablated surface, the SiO₂ layer was capable of further reducing ingress of oxygen into the materials below.