Oxidation behaviour of zirconium diboride–silicon carbide ceramic composites under low oxygen partial pressure

The oxidation behaviour of ZrB2-based ceramics under low oxygen partial pressure ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 kPa was investigated. Low oxygen partial pressure was found to have remarkable effect on phase composition of the surface and the structures of oxide scale. And the thickness and microstructures of oxide scale was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results indicate that the oxidation mechanism of ZrB2-based ceramics changes under low oxygen partial pressure, and the oxidation resistance increases with the reduction of oxygen partial pressure.

► ZrB2–SiC ceramics was oxidized under oxygen partial pressure between 0.5 and 1.5 kPa.
► The oxidation mechanism of ZrB2–SiC ceramics changes during the oxygen partial pressure between 1 and 1.5 kPa.
► The oxidation resistance performance of ZrB2–SiC ceramics increases with reduction of oxygen partial pressure.