High-temperature oxidation behavior of SiC-coated carbon fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composites

The high-temperature oxidation behavior of bare and SiC-coated carbon fiber -reinforced carbon matrix (C/C) composites was examined in the temperature range 900-3000 K. In the course of the measurements, the main focus was pla ced upon the effect of oxygen partial pressure on the oxidation behavior an d the transition temperature between the passive and active oxidation regim es. To understand the oxidation behavior of SiC-coated C/C composites quant itatively, a morphological characterization of coating cracks was carried o ut, and then, in the oxygen diffusion controlling temperature range, an ana lytical model was developed for the prediction of weight loss due to oxidat ion of SiC-coated C/C composites. The oxidation rates derived from this mod el were in fairly good agreement with the experiment results. (C) 1999 Else vier Science Limited. All rights reserved.