Oxidation behaviour of a continuous carbon fibre reinforced ZrB2-SiC composite

The oxidation behaviour in air of a hot-pressed ZrB2-SiC-Cf composite was investigated. Tests from 25 to 1550 °C in air were carried out at a rate of 10 °C/min and 45 °C/min. Then, 6 h isothermal runs were conducted in air at 800, 1000, 1200, 1400 °C, after heating the samples in argon at 30 °C/min. Below 1000 °C the kinetics was dominated by an exponential weight loss due to fibre consumption. Above 1000 °C, weight loss started to be significantly counterbalanced by weight gain due to the formation of a layer of SiO2 and B2O3. Kinetic parameters were evaluated.