Effect of C/C preform density on microstructure and mechanical properties of C/C-SiC composites prepared by alloyed reactive melt infiltration

• Published in: Materials science and technology Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 1505 - 1512
• Main Authors: Tong, Y G, Bai, S X, Zhang, H, Ye, Y C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Taylor & Francis 01.12.2012; SAGE Publications; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alloys; C/C preform; C/C-SiC composite; Composite materials; Density; Flexural strength; Infiltration; Mechanical properties; Melting; Melts; Microstructure; Modulus of rupture in bending; Phases; Preforms; Reactive melt infiltration; C/C preform; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; C/C–SiC composite; Reactive melt infiltration
• DOI: 10.1179/1743284712Y.0000000077
• ISSN: 0267-0836

Low cost C/C-SiC composites were prepared by alloyed reactive melt infiltration. Effects of the density of C/C preforms on mechanical properties and microstructure of the C/C-SiC composites are reviewed. The results show that with increasing the density of C/C preforms, the flexural strength of the resulting composites increases, while the density of the composites decreases. The flexural strength can reach 341 MPa for the composite produced from the C/C preform of 1·3 g cm −3 . The phases in the composites produced from low density C/C preforms are Si, SiC, ZrSi 2 and carbon, while no Si phase is found in the composites with high density C/C preforms. Furthermore, the mechanism of the microstructure evolution of the C/C-SiC composites is proposed.