Microstructure and ablation properties of carbon/carbon composites modified by ZrSiO₄

Ablation behavior of C/C-ZrSiO₄ composites prepared by a three-step process was studied using oxyacetylene torch. After ablation for 120s, the linear and mass ablation rates of the composites were 5.91μm/s and 1.13mg/s, respectively, which were lower than those of pure C/C composites. The evolution processes of microstructure and composition of the ablation surface with the extension of ablation time were investigated in detail. The heat from the ablation flame was absorbed by the decomposition of ZrSiO₄ and the evaporation of SiO₂, thereby reducing the high temperature corrosion of the composites.