Mechanical, Oxidation and Cyclic Ablation Properties of Cf/ZrB2-SiC and Cf/ZrB2-SiBCN Composites

doi:10.11901/1005.3093.2026.111

Chinese Journal of Materials Research

2026, Vol. 40

Issue (7): 497-506 DOI: 10.11901/1005.3093.2026.111

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Mechanical, Oxidation and Cyclic Ablation Properties of C_f/ZrB₂-SiC and C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN Composites

FU Yuhan¹^,², FAN Junling³, ZHANG Wei³, PANG Shengyang², HU Chenglong²(

)

^1.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China
^2.Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
^3.National Key Laboratory of Strength and Structural Integrity, Aircraft Strength Research Institute of China, Xi'an 710065, China

Cite this article:

FU Yuhan, FAN Junling, ZHANG Wei, PANG Shengyang, HU Chenglong. Mechanical, Oxidation and Cyclic Ablation Properties of C_f/ZrB₂-SiC and C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN Composites. Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2026, 40(7): 497-506.

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Abstract

The composites C_f/ZrB₂-SiC and C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN with high ZrB₂ content were prepared via a combined method of slurry infiltration (SI) and precursor infiltration pyrolysis (PIP), accordingly their densities are 2.73 g/cm³ and 2.70 g/cm³ respectively, and the ZrB₂ content exceeding 25% (volume fraction). The effect of different precursors on the oxidation and ablation behavior of the composites was investigated, aiming to address issues such as the low reusable temperature and insufficient understanding of ablation behavior for carbon fiber-reinforced ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites. The results showed that after nine oxidation cycles at 1200 °C, the mass loss rates of C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN and C_f/ZrB₂-SiC were comparable, at 3.69% and 3.59%, respectively. However, after the same number of oxidation cycles at 1400 ^oC, the mass loss rate of C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN was significantly higher than that of C_f/ZrB₂-SiC, reaching 5.05%. This is primarily attributed to the volatilization of B- and N-gaseous compounds from the oxidation products of SiBCN at higher temperatures. After nine cycles of oxyacetylene flame ablation at 1800 ^oC and 2100 ^oC for a single duration of 300 s, the mass loss rates of C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN were 1.29% and 1.93%, respectively, which are significantly lower than those of C_f/ZrB₂-SiC composites. This improvement is mainly due to the higher density of C_f/ZrB₂-SiBCN and the better healing ability of the glass phase formed during cyclic ablation, which reduces mechanical erosion caused by gas flow and mitigates subsurface crack propagation.

Key words: composite ultra-high-temperature ceramics reusability cyclic oxidation resistance cyclic ablation

Received: 27 January 2026

ZTFLH:

TB332

Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52572089)

Corresponding Authors: HU Chenglong, Tel: (024)23979833, E-mail: clhu10s@imr.ac.cn

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	FU Yuhan
	FAN Junling
	ZHANG Wei
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	HU Chenglong

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https://www.cjmr.org/EN/10.11901/1005.3093.2026.111 OR https://www.cjmr.org/EN/Y2026/V40/I7/497

Fig.1 SEM images of C_f/ZrB₂ green body (a) green body surface, (b, c) green body interior, (d) particles in the green body

Fig.2 Pore size distribution of the C_f/ZrB₂ green body

Fig.3 Microscopic cross-sectional morphology of S-ZS (a, b) and S-ZSB (c-f) composites

Fig.4 Flexural stress-strain curves of the S-ZS and S-ZSB composite materials

Fig.5 Oxidation mass loss curves of S-ZS and S-ZSB oxidated at 1200 ^oC (a) an 1400 ^oC (b)

Fig.6 Morphologies of S-ZS (a-c) and S-ZSB (d-f) after oxidation at different temperatures (a, d) 1200 ^oC-300 s × 3, (b, e) 1200 ^oC-300 s × 9, (c, f) 1400 ^oC-300 s × 9

Fig.7 Mass loss curves of S-ZS and S-ZSB after cyclic ablation at 1800 ^oC (a) and 2100 ^oC (b)

Fig.8 Surface morphologies and EDS analysis of S-ZS (a) and S-ZSB (b) composites after 9 cycles of ablation at 1800 ^oC

Fig.9 Surface morphologies of S-ZS and S-ZSB composites after 2100 ^oC cyclic ablation (a, d) 300 s × 3, (b, e) 300 s × 6, (c, f) 300 s × 9

Fig.10 Surface 3D topography morphologies of S-ZS (a-c) and S-ZSB (d-f) composites after 2100 ^oC cyclic ablation and distribution of ablation crater depth intervals (g-i) (a, d, g) 300 s × 3, (b, e, h) 300 s × 6, (c, f, i) 300 s × 9

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