C/C composite oxidation model: III. Physical basis, limitations and applications Original Research Article

In this part a numerical model for the oxidation of C/C composites is developed. It takes into account the morphological and the reactivity results determined in part I and II, respectively. The prediction ability of this model has been checked for different types of composites oxidized in different atmospheres and generally the trends of the experimental reaction curves are relatively well followed. This model allows to predict the consumption of carbon that occurs at surface or within the composite and permits to estimate oxidation or gasification phenomena in domains where chemistry as well as gas diffusion control kinetics. Some examples of the use of the model to design future devices or to get some information when experiments are impossible, as plane atmospheric re-entry, are presented. This model seems to be relevant for re-entry simulations in a scarce atmosphere, or for low or medium flight altitudes, as well as for combustion chamber applications.