Oxidation behavior of fine-grained SiC–B4C/C composites up to 1400 °C Original Research Article

Fine-grained B4C–SiC/C composites were fabricated using a ball-milling dispersion process. The oxidation behaviors of both fine-grained B4C–SiC/C composites and coarse-grained B4C–SiC/C composites at temperatures of up to 1400 °C were analyzed by the differential thermal analysis technique, and the surface morphology of the composites after isothermal oxidation at 800, 1200 and 1400 °C was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that fine-grained B4C–SiC/C composites had excellent oxidation resistance with self-healing properties at 1400 °C. A general model and mechanism for self-protection against oxidation of carbon materials were proposed.