Erosive behaviors of SiC foam/epoxy co-continuous phase composites

• SiC foam/epoxy co-continuous phase composites were successfully prepared.
• The erosive behaviors of SiCfoam/EPs were investigated using a rotating disk rig.
• A new parameter erosion angle (α) is proposed to characterize the erosion.
• Flow velocity was the dominant factor comparing with sand content.
• The erosion of SiCfoam/EP obeyed a modified linear rule of mixtures averaging law.

SiC foam/epoxy co-continuous phase composites (SiCfoam/EPs) that were composed of the E-51 epoxy (EP) matrix and the SiC ceramic foam (SiCfoam) reinforcement were prepared as the erosion resistant materials. The erosive behaviors of SiCfoam/EPs were investigated by using a rotating disk rig. The effects of sand content (C), flow velocity (V), test duration and SiC volume fraction on the erosive behaviors of SiCfoam/EPs were studied through the mass loss test, SEM and CLSM (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope) observations. Under different experimental conditions, the erosion rate (Er, defined as the ratio of erosion (Ec) and time) was relatively larger before the transition point, but Er clearly decreased after the transition point. Ec of SiCfoam/EPs increased with flow velocity (Ec∝V3) and sand content (Ec∝C). The erosion angle (α, the angle between the eroded and initial surfaces) of SiCfoam/EPs increased linearly with flow velocity and sand content. Under the test conditions, flow velocity was the dominant factor for the erosive behaviors of SiCfoam/EPs. Ec and α of SiCfoam/EPs both decreased with the increase of SiC volume fraction. The erosion of SiCfoam/EPs obeyed the linear rule of mixtures (LROM) averaging law since EP and SiCfoam were eroded by a parallel process.