Preparation, ablation behavior and mechanism of C/C-ZrC-SiC and C/C-SiC composites

ZrC precursor was synthesized by a solution approach using ZrOCl2·8H2O, acetylacetonate, glycerol and boron-modified phenolic resin. A ZrC yield of ~ 40.56 wt% was obtained at 1500 °C in the C/Zr molar ratio of 1:1. C/C-ZrC-SiC composites were fabricated by a combined processes of chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) using the synthesized ZrC precursor. For comparison, C/C-SiC composites were prepared by CVI. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that C/C-ZrC-SiC composites exhibited better oxidation resistance than C/C-SiC composites. After oxyacetylene torch ablation, the mass ablation rate of C/C-ZrC-SiC composites was 9.23% lower than that of C/C-SiC composites. The porous ZrO2 skeleton in the ablation center was prone to be peeled off by the flame flow, resulting in the higher linear ablation rate of C/C-ZrC-SiC composites. The oxide layers of ZrO2 and SiO2 were formed on the transition and brim region of C/C-ZrC-SiC composites and acted as effective heat and oxygen barriers. For C/C-SiC composites, the C-SiC matrix was severely depleted in the ablation center and the formed SiO2 layer in the brim region could protect the matrix against further ablation.