High-temperature tensile properties and oxidation behavior of carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide bolts in a simulated re-entry environment

The tensile properties and oxidation behavior of 2D C/SiC bolts prepared by chemical vapor infiltration were investigated in a simulated re-entry environment. The results showed that all the tensile strengths of 2D C/SiC bolts at test temperatures of 1300, 1600 and 1800 °C decreased, respectively, retaining 85%, 92%, and 94% of the virgin properties at room temperature. The tensile strengths and times to failure of 2D C/SiC bolts slightly increased with increase of test temperature from 1300 to 1800 °C. Microstructural observations indicated that the C/SiC bolts at lower temperature of 1300 °C were more susceptible to the reaction-controlled oxidation with the blunt fiber ends than those at high temperature of 1800 °C, which resulting in turn in great mechanical degradation and severe oxidation.