Fabrication and properties of C <sub>f</sub> /Ta <sub>4</sub> HfC <sub>5</sub> ‐SiC composite via precursor infiltration and pyrolysis
Xuegang Zou, Dewei Ni, Bowen Chen, Li Ye, Yanan Sun, Jun Lü, Feiyan Cai, Le Gao, Tong Zhao, Shaoming Dong
Abstract
Abstract In this study, a C f /Ta 4 HfC 5 ‐SiC ultra‐high‐temperature ceramic matrix composite exhibiting a homogeneous phase distribution was successfully fabricated via precursor infiltration and pyrolysis processing. Initially, the pyrolysis and solid solution mechanisms exhibited by the Ta 4 HfC 5 precursor were investigated and characterized through TG‐MS and XRD analysis. The as‐fabricated C f /Ta 4 HfC 5 ‐SiC composite exhibited a density and open porosity of 2.84 g/cm 3 and 10.62 vol%, respectively. It also exhibited outstanding mechanical properties, with a flexural strength of 339 ± 20 MPa and fracture toughness of 11.56 ± 0.77 MPa·m 1/2 . The C f /Ta 4 HfC 5 ‐SiC composite demonstrated strong ablation resistance under a heat flux of 5 MW/m 2 at ~2400℃, with corresponding linear and mass recession rates of 5.33 μm/s and 6.18 mg/s, respectively. The combination of strong mechanical properties and ablation resistance provides a solid basis for the use of the C f /Ta 4 HfC 5 ‐SiC composite in a new generation of ultra‐high‐temperature materials.