Effects of carbon matrix on microstructure and properties of 3-D C/ZrC composites prepared by reactive melt infiltration

摘要

Three-dimensional braided carbon fiber-reinforced ZrC matrix composites, 3-D C/ZrC, were fabricated by reactive melt infiltration process at 1200 °C. Phenolic resin and asphalt were used as carbon precursors, and the effects of carbon matrix on microstructure and properties of the 3-D C/ZrC composites were investigated. The composites fabricated with asphalt showed a higher ZrC yield of 37.5 ± 1.0 vol% and better anti-ablative properties, with a mass loss rate of 0.8 ± 0.3 mg s~(-1) and a linear recession rate of 0.0006 ± 0.0002 mm s~(-1). However, the use of phenolic resin could provide better mechanical properties of the obtained composites, including a flexural strength of 285.4 ± 9.7 MPa, an elastic modulus of 76.2 ± 4.0 GPa and a fracture toughness of 8.9 ± 0.8 MPa m~(1/2). The main reason for the superior mechanical properties is the preservation of carbon fiber bundles in the phenolic resin based composites.