Electrically induced liquid infiltration for the synthesis of carbon/carbon-silicon carbide composite

Abstract

The electrically induced liquid infiltration (EILI) method for the synthesis of carbon/carbon-silicon carbide (C/C-SiC) materials was developed. The method involves Joule preheating of a porous carbon/carbon preform surrounded by silicon media, followed by silicon infiltration into the pore structure, and its reaction with carbon to form pore-free C/C-SiC composite. This technique is characterized by high heating rates (102-103 K/s) and short processing times (5-20 s), which distinguish it from conventional approaches. The influence of maximum treatment temperature, as well as preheating rate on the depth of infiltration, reaction kinetics, and the material microstructure was investigated. C/C-SiC composite with a compressive strength which was twice that of the initial C/C material was synthesized. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.