Microstructure and Properties of C/HfC-SiC Composites Prepared by Slurry Impregnation Assisted Precursor Infiltration Pyrolysis

doi:10.15541/jim20230471

Abstract

Abstract:

In response to the urgent demand for ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites with integrated thermal protection and load-bearing capabilities for high-speed aircrafts, this study prepared stable ceramic slurry from submicron HfC ceramic powder, and utilized the slurry pressure impregnation-assisted precursor infiltration pyrolysis (PIP) process to fabricate C/HfC-SiC composites with uniformly distributed HfC matrix to overcome the shortcomings of the existing reaction-derived HfC precursor, such as high cost, low efficiency, and poor densification effect. The influence of HfC content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and ablation resistance of composites was investigated. Results showed that the composites had density of 2.20-2.58 g·cm^-3 and open porosity of approximately 5% when the actual volume fraction of HfC was in range of 13.1%-20.3%. Utilizing a single layer of carbon cloth to impregnate the ceramic slurry with pressure, HfC particles were able to disperse into the interior of the fiber bundle and distributed relatively evenly in the composites. Increasing the HfC content resulted in reducted fiber content, and decreased mechanical properties of composites. Specifically, when HfC volume fraction was 20.3%, the composites exhibited density, tensile strength and fracture toughness of 2.58 g·cm^-3, 147 MPa and 9.3 MPa·m^1/2, respectively. Following 60 s of ablation under an oxygen acetylene flame, the composites demonstrated linear ablation rate of 0.0062 mm/s and mass ablation rate of 0.005 g/s. The molten phase Hf_xSi_yO_z formed during the ablation process could effectively cover the composites surface and provide protection.

Key words: C/HfC-SiC composite, slurry impregnation, mechanical property, ablation resistance

CLC Number:

TB332

SU Yi, SHI Yangfan, JIA Chenglan, CHI Pengtao, GAO Yang, MA Qingsong, CHEN Sian. Microstructure and Properties of C/HfC-SiC Composites Prepared by Slurry Impregnation Assisted Precursor Infiltration Pyrolysis[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(6): 726-732.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of C/HfC-SiC composites prepared by slurry pressure impregnation-assisted PIP process

Table 1 Densities, open porosities and compositions of C/HfC-SiC composites

Sample	Density/ (g·cm^-3)	Open porosity/%	Fiber/% (in vol)	HfC/% (in vol)	SiC/% (in vol)
S-15	2.20	5.4	43.4	13.1	32.6
S-20	2.37	4.3	40.8	16.5	31.2
S-25	2.58	5.6	37.1	20.3	30.9

Fig. 2 Microstructure and corresponding EDS analyses of C/HfC-SiC composites

Fig. 3 Morphologies of C/HfC-SiC composites (a, b) S-15; (c, d) S-20; (e, f) S-25

Table 2 Mechanical properties of C/HfC-SiC composites

Sample	Bending strength/MPa	Bending modulus/GPa	Tensile strength/MPa	Tensile modulus/GPa	Fracture toughness/(MPa·m^1/2)
S-15	333±18	56.0±2.6	152±16	62.0±4.5	12.0±3.2
S-20	295±31	50.0±1.4	145±5	60.0±1.8	11.0±1.7
S-25	307±9	53.4±1.9	147±16	62.5±5.1	9.3±1.8

Fig. 4 Fracture morphologies of C/HfC-SiC composites (a) S-15; (b) S-20; (c) S-25

Fig. 5 Macro morphologies of C/HfC-SiC composites after ablation (a) S-15; (b) S-20; (c) S-25

Fig. 6 Ablation behavior of C/HfC-SiC composites under oxyacetylene torch flame

Fig. 7 XRD pattern of surface for C/HfC-SiC composites after ablation

Fig. 8 SEM images of ablation centers (a-c) and their corresponding EDS analyses (d) of S-25

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