Binary Binder for Cf/C-SiC Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Property.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Ceramic Matrix Composites
• High-Temperature Materials

Background:

• Carbon fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (Cf/C-SiC) composites offer desirable properties for high-temperature applications.
• Traditional methods for Cf/C-SiC preparation face limitations due to poor sintering performance, requiring high temperatures and pressures.
• These limitations hinder the widespread engineering application of Cf/C-SiC composites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel and effective approach for fabricating Cf/C-SiC composites.
• To overcome the sintering challenges associated with traditional methods.
• To produce Cf/C-SiC composites with enhanced mechanical properties and low density.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a precursor-derived ceramic route combined with C/C composites processing.
• Developed a binary binder (coal pitch and polysilylacetylene) integrating carbon source, SiC precursor, and SiC filler.
• Employed slurry impregnation-hot pressing sintering to introduce the SiC phase into C/C composites.

Main Results:

• Successfully introduced SiC phase into C/C composites.
• Prepared Cf/C-SiC composites with a density of 1.53 g/cm³.
• Achieved a notable bending strength of 339 ± 21 MPa.
• Investigated the influence of the binary binder on microstructure, density, and mechanical properties.

Conclusions:

• The developed binary binder approach is effective for fabricating Cf/C-SiC composites.
• The method successfully addresses traditional sintering limitations, enabling lower processing temperatures and pressures.
• The resulting Cf/C-SiC composites exhibit excellent low density and high strength characteristics.