Oxidation kinetics and mechanisms of a 2D-C/C composite

The isothermal oxidation of a 2D-C/C composite was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis in the temperature range of 745–900 °C and SEM observation. The model-free, model-fitting and reduced-time plot methods were applied to oxidation kinetic analysis. SEM investigation shows that oxidation starts from the fiber/matrix interfaces, and matrix carbon is oxidized much more rapidly than the carbon fibers. According to the model-free curve, the oxidation temperatures are divided into two ranges: lower temperatures (745–800 °C) and higher temperatures (850–900 °C). The apparent activation energy and oxidation controlling mechanisms in different temperature ranges are obtained. Furthermore, the trend of the oxidation rate with weight loss or temperature ranges is discussed by the combination of microstructure and mechanisms of oxidation of 2D-C/C composite.