C/C–SiC composite prepared by Si–10Zr alloyed melt infiltration

A high performance and low cost C/C–SiC composite was prepared by Si–10Zr alloyed melt infiltration. Carbon fiber felt was firstly densified by pyrolytic carbon using chemical vapor infiltration to obtain a porous C/C preform. The eutectic Si–Zr alloyed melt (Zr: 10 at.%, Si: 90 at.%) was then infiltrated into the porous preform at 1450 °C to prepare the C/C–SiC composite. Due to the in situ reaction between the pyrolytic carbon and the Si–Zr alloy, SiC, ZrSi2 and ZrC phases were formed, the formation and distribution of which were investigated by thermodynamics. The as-received C/C–SiC composite, with the flexural strength of 353.6 MPa, displayed a pseudo-ductile fracture behavior. Compared with the C/C preform and C/C composite of high density, the C/C–SiC composite presented improved oxidation resistance, which lost 36.5% of its weight whereas the C/C preform lost all its weight and the high density C/C composite lost 84% of its weight after 20 min oxidation in air at 1400 °C. ZrO2, ZrSiO4 and SiO2 were formed on the surface of the C/C–SiC composite, which effectively protected the composite from oxidation.