A novel strategy to improve the corrosion resistance of SiCf/SiC composites in high-temperature combustion environments by cooperation of self-healing SiBCN and high-stability Yb2Si2O7

Abstract

How to improve the resistance to water-oxygen-salt corrosion of SiCf/SiC composites is vital to their long-term service in the advanced aero-engines or gas turbines. SiCf/SiC-SiBCN-Yb2Si2O7 (SSY) self-healing composites were exposed to combustion environments at 1200–1350 °C for a long time up to 100 h. The dissolution of solid Yb2Si2O7 into low-viscosity glassy oxides derived mainly from oxidation of SiBCN leads to the formation of stable Yb2Si2O7-contianing multi-phase silicate which can inhibit the diffusion of corrosive media and alleviate corrosive damage of composites. After corrosion in H2O/O2/Na2SO4 at 1200 °C and 1350 °C, the strength retention rates of SSY are 96 % and 88 %, respectively, (6.4 ± 0.9)% higher than those of SiCf/SiC-SiBCN (SS), due to the good cooperative protective effect of SiBCN-Yb2Si2O7. However, the insufficient dissolution of Yb2Si2O7 causes the formation of plenty of solid/liquid interfaces conductive to the diffusion of corrosive media in H2O/O2 at 1200 °C and 1350 °C. As a result, the retention rates of flexural strengths of SSY are 100 % and 91 %, respectively, (2.5 ± 0.5)% lower than those of SS.