Influence of molybdenum disilicide filler on carbon-carbon composites

Carbon fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composites (C-C composites) have been prepared with addition of 0, 4, 12 and 20 wt.% of the inorganic filler: mo lybdenum disilicide (MoSi2). These composites were unidirectionally manufac tured using the prepreg method, and were submitted to graphitization (heat treated to 2300 degrees C), throughout a one-step manufacturing process. In this work, the influence of MoSi2 concentrations was ascertained by measur ing the degree of graphitization, flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength of the composites. As a result, the presence of MoSi2 in C-C compo sites effectively increased the degree of graphitization and the mechanical properties, resulting in the increase of bulk density (or decrease of open porosity) and decrease of interlayer spacing of the graphitized composites . (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.