Journal of Inorganic Materials ›› 2025, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (10): 1045-1078.DOI: 10.15541/jim20250054

• JOINT REVIEW •     Next Articles

Research Progress on Ultra-high Temperature Ceramic Structural Materials for Extreme Environments

LI Xiaoxuan1(), FU Qiangang1(), WEN Zihao2, YANG Jinshan3, NI Dewei3, ZHANG Jie4, CHENG Yuan5, LIU Yuxuan5, CHU Yanhui2(), CAI Feiyan3(), WANG Jingyang4(), ZHANG Xinghong5()   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Ultra-High Temperature Structural Composites, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
    2 School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
    3 State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
    4 Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
    5 Center for Composite Materials and Structures, School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
  • Received:2025-02-12 Revised:2025-04-12 Published:2025-04-16 Online:2025-04-16
  • Contact: FU Qiangang, professor. Responsible for compiling the entire manuscript and writing about ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) modified carbon/carbon composites. E-mail: fuqiangang@nwpu.edu.cn;
    CHU Yanhui, professor. Responsible for writing about UHTC powders and preparation methods. E-mail: chuyh@scut.edu.cn;
    CAI Feiyan, assistant professor. Responsible for writing about UHTC-based composites. E-mail: caifeiyan@mail.sic.ac.cn;
    WANG Jingyang, professor. Responsible for writing about UHTC coatings. E-mail: jywang@imr.ac.cn;
    ZHANG Xinghong, professor. Responsible for writing about ultra-high temperature structural ceramics. E-mail: zhangxh@hit.edu.cn
  • About author:LI Xiaoxuan (2000-), female, PhD candidate. E-mail: lixiaoxuan2017@mail.nwpu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(52125203);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52432003);National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2441266);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52032003);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52472091);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52222202);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52472114);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52332003);National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA0715800)

Abstract:

Ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) structural materials have emerged as critical candidates in the fields of aerospace, defense equipment, energy and power sectors due to their outstanding oxidation/ablation resistance, high-temperature strength retention, and thermal shock resistance in oxidative environments exceeding 1600 ℃. In recent years, extensive research has been achieved in both fundamental research and technological applications focusing on compositional control, structural design, fabrication techniques, and performance optimization of these materials. UHTC systems, characterized by carbides, borides and nitrides, are currently facing increasingly stringent demands for enhanced thermal performance in more complex environments. To further advance development of UHTC structural materials for such conditions, this paper systematically reviews the latest research progress in this field. Firstly, synthesis techniques of UHTC powders are elaborated. Subsequently, systems, densification methods and structural regulation strategies of UHTCs are presented. Furthermore, fabrication techniques and performance enhancement strategies of UHTC matrix composites (UHTCMCs), UHTCs modified carbon/carbon composites (UHTCs-C/C), and UHTC coatings are examined, with particular emphasis on the latest breakthroughs in oxidation/ablation resistance. Additionally, primary technical challenges related to the long-term stability and reliability of UHTC structural materials under extreme conditions are identified, and a forward-looking perspective on future development trends is provided.

Key words: ultra-high temperature structural material, ultra-high temperature ceramic, composite, coating, oxidation/ablation resistance, review

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