Preparation and properties of carbon fiber reinforced ZrC–ZrB2 based composites via reactive melt infiltration

Carbon fiber reinforced ZrC–ZrB2 based (C/C–ZrC–ZrB2) composites, which were prepared by reactive infiltration of zirconium into a porous C/C–B4C preform, had the density of 3.07 g/cm3, the open porosity of 9.1% and the flexural strength of 147 MPa. ZrB2 matrix was surrounded by or adjoined to the ZrC one and Zr–ZrC eutectic including residual α-Zr dispersed among the reaction-formed ceramics. The amount of ZrC–ZrB2 matrix in the composites was ∼30.2 vol.%. The mass loss rate and the linear recession rate under an oxyacetylene torch were 0.0039 g/s and 0.01 mm/s, respectively.