Influence of zirconium-based alloys on manufacturing and mechanical properties of ultra high temperature ceramic matrix composites

Abstract

For the continuous development of ultra high temperature ceramic matrix composites manufactured using reactive melt infiltration (RMI), the influence of three different melt alloys and two preform routes on mechanical behaviour and melt infiltration is investigated. Contact angle and viscosity measurement are performed to describe the melt infiltration process. The purpose of these experiments is to further understand the RMI process and increase the mechanical performance of the material. The infiltration height of molten metals within capillary systems depends on the measured contact angles and viscosity as well as the different phases present in the preform, matrix and fibre coating. In order to successfully maintain mechanical performance, minimal reactivity between the melt and coating/fibres is desired. Resulting phase formations, for each manufacturing step, are investigated and analysed using SEM, EDX and XRD. Mechanical performance is determined using flexural strength by three-point-bending, achieving close to 400 MPa with 0/90 • fabrics.

Properties of large scale ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites made by filament winding and spark plasma sintering

“…-Reactive Melt Infiltration (RMI), where the carbon preforms are first impregnated with Bcontaining phases and then infiltrated with Zr-containing melts in special furnaces [11];…”

Effect of PAN-based and pitch-based carbon fibres on microstructure and properties of continuous Cf/ZrB2-SiC UHTCMCs

“…reactive melt infiltration (RMI), where the carbon preforms are infiltrated with Zrcontaining melts [14]: this technique has the advantage to be very fast and versatile, but the Zr based melt easily reacts and degrade the carbon fibres.…”

Processing of fiber‐reinforced ultra‐high temperature ceramic composites: A review

“…Capillary forces must be high enough to enable infiltration, which depends on pore size, wetting angle between the melt and preform, infiltration atmosphere, and melt dynamic viscosity and surface tension. 86 For UHTCMCs, both carbide and boride matrix chemistries have been achieved using RMI. For a ZrB 2containing matrix, Kütemeyer et al 86,87 utilized Zr 2 Cu-or Zr 2 Ag-based melt with boron powder to infiltrate preforms that were partially densified with either phenolic resin or polycarbosilane precursor.…”

“…86 For UHTCMCs, both carbide and boride matrix chemistries have been achieved using RMI. For a ZrB 2containing matrix, Kütemeyer et al 86,87 utilized Zr 2 Cu-or Zr 2 Ag-based melt with boron powder to infiltrate preforms that were partially densified with either phenolic resin or polycarbosilane precursor. Other studies have utilized the infiltration of Si or Zr x Si y to obtain ZrB 2 -or ZrC-based matrix phases.…”