Tuning ceramic content, mechanical and ablative properties of C/C–ZrC-ZrxCuy composites via using various C/C skeletons

Abstract

C/C–ZrC-ZrxCuy composites were prepared by pressure-assisted reactive melt infiltration with Zr2Cu alloy as an infiltrator. The mechanical and ablation properties of C/C–ZrC-ZrxCuy composites were tuned by applying various C/C skeletons (1.28, 1.40, 1.58, and 1.73 g/cm3). When the C/C skeleton density increased from 1.28 to 1.73 g/cm3, the density of the composites decreased gradually. Additionally, due to the higher ceramic content, composites with low skeleton density (1.28, 1.40 g/cm3) exhibit a higher compressive and flexural strength. The fabricated composites with a skeleton density of 1.28 g/cm3 possess better mechanical properties and ablative properties at 2800 °C. After plasma flame ablation for 54 s, the linear and mass ablation rates of the composites are 33.70 ± 1.33 μm/s and 22.39 ± 2.99 mg/s, respectively.