Oxidation of ZrB2–SiC–ZrSi2 ceramics in oxygen

The oxidation of ZrB2–SiC and ZrB2–SiC–ZrSi2 ceramics of different composition has been studied experimentally at 1500 °C in pure oxygen for up to 50 h. ZrB2–SiC–ZrSi2 ceramics proved to be the most oxidation-resistant at ZrSi2 contents of less then 4 wt%. These ceramics were more oxidation-resistant than ZrB2–SiC ceramics. An analytical model of growth kinetics for a multilayered scale based on an oxidation–diffusion balance was developed and tested.