Microstructure and ablation properties of carbon/carbon composites modified by ZrSiO4

• C/C–ZrSiO4 composites were prepared by a combined process of ICVI and TCVI.
• The ablation property of C/C composites was improved by introducing ZrSiO4.
• C/C–ZrSiO4 composites were studied using oxyacetylene torch.
• The linear and mass ablation rates were lower than those of pure C/C composites.

Ablation behavior of C/C–ZrSiO4 composites prepared by a three-step process was studied using oxyacetylene torch. After ablation for 120 s, the linear and mass ablation rates of the composites were 5.91 μm/s and 1.13 mg/s, respectively, which were lower than those of pure C/C composites. The evolution processes of microstructure and composition of the ablation surface with the extension of ablation time were investigated in detail. The heat from the ablation flame was absorbed by the decomposition of ZrSiO4 and the evaporation of SiO2, thereby reducing the high temperature corrosion of the composites.