Microstructure and properties of ZrC-SiC multi-phase coatings prepared by thermal evaporation deposition and an in-situ reaction method

A structurally controllable ZrC-SiC coating was prepared by thermal evaporation and an in-situ reaction on carbon materials at 2400 °C. The micro-mechanical properties, and friction and ablation properties of the coatings were studied. Results show that ZrC-SiC coatings have a multi-layered structure with a low content of Si, and a single ZrCx-SiC layer with a high content of Si. The ZrC-SiC-C interface is spontaneously formed on the surface of the carbon matrix, which is useful to rectify the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficient between ZrC and the carbon matrix. The mass and linear ablation rates of coating 50%Zr-50%Si were −2.43 × 10−3 mg/(cm2·s) and −0.667 μm/s, respectively.