SiC nanowire toughened ZrB2–SiC ablative coating for SiC coated C/C composites

To improve the ablation resistance of carbon/carbon (C/C) composites, a SiC nanowire toughened ZrB2–SiC multiphase coating was prepared by a three-step technique including pack cementation, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and supersonic atmosphere plasma spray (SAPS). The SiC nanowires helped improve the toughness of the ceramic coating. After ablation for 60 s under the heat flux of 4800 kW/m2, the linear and mass ablation rates of ZrB2–SiC coating decreased from 4.9 μm/s and 2.3×10−3 g/s to 2.8 μm/s and 1.4×10−3 g/s after introducing SiC nanowires, respectively.