Interfacial Studies of Chemical Vapor Infiltrated (CVI) Ceramic Matrix Composites

摘要

The objective of this program was to investigate the fiber/matrix interfacialchemistry in CVI SiC matrix composites utilizing Nicalon SiC and Nextel 440 mullite fibers and to determine how this interface influences composite properties such as strength, toughness, and environmental stability. The SiC matrix was deposited using three different reactants; methyldichlorosilane (MDS), methyltrichlorosilane (MTS), and dimethyldichlorosilane (DMDS). The fiber/matrix interface was tailored by means of introducing a carbon, BN, or carbon rich SiC interfacial layer. It was found that applying a carbon interfacial layer to either NICALON or Nextel 440 fibers prior to deposition of SiC resulted in a weakly bonded interface that imparted toughness to CVI matrix composite through its ability to deflect matrix cracks. This carbon layer can be applied either deliberately by the decomposition of methane or by utilizing an argon flushing gas in the reactor that apparently interrupted the normal deposition of SiC from silane precursors and instead allowed carbon to deposit. It was found that this carbon interfacial layer, no matter how it was deposited, was not oxidatively stable at elevated temperatures, leading to severe degradation of composite properties. (jes)