Ablative Properties of SiCp Doped Cf/Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 Composites

doi:10.15541/jim20240493

Abstract

Abstract:

In a high heat flux ablative environment, the surface temperature of aircraft rises rapidly, leading to traditional high thermal conductivity materials being ineffective at protecting internal metal components. In this study, continuous carbon fiber reinforced Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (C_f/LAS) glass ceramic composites doped with SiC particles (SiC_p) were prepared by slurry immersion winding and hot pressing sintering. Effect of matrix crystallinity on ablative properties of the composites under ultra-high heat flux was investigated. By utilizing heat absorption and low thermal conductivity characteristics associated with SiO₂ gasification within composite materials, both surface and internal temperatures of these materials are effectively reduced, thereby ensuring the safe operation of aircraft and electronic devices. Results indicate that the average linear ablation rate of composites doped with 10% (in mass) of SiC_p significantly decreases at a heat flux of 20 MW/m². Transmission electron microscope observation reveals that the doped glass matrix exhibits increased crystallinity, reduced internal stress, and minimized lattice distortion, thereby enhancing the composites’ high-temperature performance. However, excessive SiC_p doping leads to reduced crystallinity and deteriorated ablation performance. Ultimately, the average linear ablation rate of C_f/LAS composites with 10% (in mass) SiC_p at 20 MW/m² heat flux is comparable to that of commercial carbon/carbon composites, accompanied by providing lower thermal conductivity and higher bending strength. This novel high-performance C_f/LAS composite is cost-effective, short-cycled, and suitable for mass production, offering promising potential for widespread application in ablation-resistant components of hypersonic vehicles.

Key words: ablation-resistant C_f/LAS composite, SiC doping, crystallinity of glass matrix, long-range ordered

CLC Number:

TB35

LIN Yuanwei, JING Zhao, CHEN Hetuo, LI Jiaheng, QIN Xianpeng, ZHOU Guohong, WANG Shiwei. Ablative Properties of SiC_p Doped C_f/Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ Composites[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(10): 1153-1162.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig. 1 Characterizations of Cf/LAS-SC composites (a) XRD patterns; (b) XRD refined patterns of Cf/LAS-SC3; (c) Mass percentages of different phases obtained by XRD refinement (c-SC indicates crystalline SiC and c-LAS indicates crystalline LAS); (d) Density (ρ) and relative density (ρr)

Fig. 2 Cross-sectional morphologies of Cf/LAS-SC (a) Cf/LAS; (b) Cf/LAS-SC1; (c) Cf/LAS-SC2; (d) Cf/LAS-SC3; (e) Cf/LAS-SC4

Fig. 3 Cross-sectional microscopic morphology and EDS mappings of Cf/LAS after ablation

Fig. 4 Cross-sectional microscopic morphology and EDS mappings of Cf/LAS-SC1 after ablation

Fig. 5 TEM characterizations of Cf/LAS composite material along the [$1\bar{2}1$] zone axis (a) High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image; (b) Images for selected regions obtained locally enlarged after the corresponding region’s fast Fourier transform (FFT); (c-e) Strain distribution obtained by geometric phase analysis (GPA) of FFT

Fig. 6 TEM characterizations of Cf/LAS-SC1 composite material along the [$1\bar{2}1$] zone axis (a) HRTEM image; (b) Images for selected regiosn obtained locally enlarged after the corresponding region’s FFT; (c-e) Strain distribution obtained by GPA of FFT

Fig. 7 X-CT 3D reconstructions of (a) Cf/LAS and (b) Cf/LAS-SC1 after ablation

Fig. 8 (a) Average linear ablation rate with insets showing photographs of Cf/LAS-SC1 (left) and Cf/LAS (right)); (b) Surface temperature of Cf/LAS-SC; (c, d) Schematic diagrams of (c) oxygen molecule direct contact ablation and (d) oxygen ion diffusion ablation mechanism, respectively

Table 1 Properties of Cf/C and Cf/LAS ablative composites[29-31]

Composition	ρ/ (g·cm^-3)	λ/ (W·m^-1·K^-1)	Ablation at high heat flux			Ref.
Composition	ρ/ (g·cm^-3)	λ/ (W·m^-1·K^-1)	Ablation rate/ (mm·s^-1)	Test environments	Ablation time/s	Ref.
C_f/C	1.85	45-68 (25-800 ℃)	-	Oxyacetylene torch with a heat flux of 3.9 MW/m²	60	[28]
	1.80	-	1.2-1.4	Stagnation ablation by high temperature air ionization jet	3	[29]
	1.80	-	0.114	Nitrogen plasma jet with a heat flux of ~25 MW/m²	20	[30]
	1.80	-	0.699	Stagnation ablation by air plasma flame with a heat flux of 22.1 MW/m²	3	[31]
	-	-	0.245	Liquid oxygen-kerosene, and the heat flux at 30 MW/m²	10	This work
C_f/LAS-SiC1	2.03	2.2-3.4 (25-1000 ℃)	0.35	Liquid oxygen-kerosene, and the heat flux at 20 MW/m²	10	This work
C_f/LAS-SiC1	2.03	2.2-3.4 (25-1000 ℃)	0.70	Liquid oxygen-kerosene, and the heat flux at 30 MW/m²	10	This work

Fig. 9 Thermal conductivity of Cf/LAS-SC1

Fig. 10 Mechanical properties of Cf/LAS-SC (a) Curves of temperature-bending strength relationship; (b) Curves of temperature-maximum displacement relationship; (c) Curve of temperature-elastic modulus relationship for Cf/LAS-SC1

References 34

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Ablative Properties of SiC_p Doped C_f/Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ Composites

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