Single-cycle thermal shock resistance of ZrB2–SiCnp ceramic composites

SiC nanoparticles were introduced in a ZrB2 matrix prepared via vacuum hot pressing sintering to improve the thermal shock resistance of ultra-high temperature ZrB2–SiC ceramics, namely, ZrB2-20 vol% nanoparticle SiC composites (ZrB2–20SiCnp). The thermal shock resistance of the material were determined at different temperatures via the water quenching-residual strength test method. The specific temperature of the water bath environment and the influence of different nanoparticle sizes on the thermal shock resistance of the material were also investigated. The results show that the critical thermal shock temperature difference (ΔTc) of the ZrB2–20SiCnp composite is 428 °C, which is 11.2% higher than 385 °C, ΔTc of a SiC microparticle-strengthened ZrB2 composite material. The results from the thermal shock analysis of the ZrB2–SiCnp composite indicate that ΔTc is strongly dependent on the formation of unusual intragranular nanostructures.