Carbon
fiber composites composed of carbon fiber and pyrolytic
carbon (PyC) matrix have great potential application in the brakes
of aircrafts, where the combination of high mechanical strength and
excellent frictional properties are required. In this work, two-component
silicon-based interlocking enhancements were designed and constructed into carbon fiber composites for
boosting the mechanical and frictional properties. Specially, silicon
carbide nanowires (SiCnws) and silicon nitride nanobelts (Si3N4nbs) could form interlocking architectures, where SiCnws
are rooted firmly on the carbon fiber surface in the radial direction
and Si3N4nbs integrate the PyC matrix with carbon
fibers together via a networked shape. SiCnws–Si3N4nbs not only refine the PyC matrix but also promote
the bonding of the fiber/matrix interface and the cohesion strength
of the PyC matrix, thus enhancing the mechanical and frictional properties.
Benefiting from the SiCnws–Si3N4nbs synergistic
effect and interlocking enhancement mechanism, the interlaminar shear
strength and compressive strength of carbon fiber composites increased
by 88.41% and 73.40%, respectively. In addition, the friction coefficient
and wear rate of carbon fiber composites decreased by 39.50% and 69.88%,
respectively. This work could open up an interlocking enhancement
strategy for efficiently fabricating carbon fiber composites and promoting
mechanical and frictional properties that could be used in the brakes
of aircrafts.