Study on the erosion mechanism of copper-infiltrated graphite throat insert

The erosion mechanism of the copper-infiltrated graphite throat insert (CIGTI) was obtained by means of studying the micro structure and the thermal conductivity of the copper-infiltrated graphite materials, analyzing the chemical reaction between the copper-infiltrated graphite and high-temperature gas. Some phenomena have been found, such as phase transformation of the copper, loss of the melting-copper on the insert surface, thermochemical ablation and mechanical exfoliation of the graphite matrix; but the self-transpiration of the copper hasn't observed. It is also shown that the copper couldn't react with combustion gas during ablating of the copper-infiltrated graphite. The formula for the evaluation of steady erosion rate of CIGTI was obtained.