Oxidation and ablation resistance of the ZrB2–CrSi2–Si/SiC coating for C/C composites at high temperature

• ZrB2–CrSi2–Si/SiC coating was prepared on the surface of C/C composites.
• The coating can effectively protect C/C composites from oxidation and ablation.
• The coating can protect C/C composites from oxidation at 1773 K for 310 h.
• The coating can protect C/C composites from ablation at 2573 K for 90 s.

To protect carbon/carbon (C/C) composites from oxidation and ablation at high temperatures, a ZrB2–CrSi2–Si/SiC coating was prepared on the surface of C/C composites by two-step pack cementation method. The microstructure, oxidation and ablation resistance of the ZrB2–CrSi2–Si/SiC coating were studied. The results show that the coating could effectively protect the C/C composites from oxidation at 1773 K for 310 h and from ablation at 2573 K for 90 s. The oxidation and ablation resistance of the coating was mainly attributed to the good protection of the compound glass.