Carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide mini-composites-solution approach

Carbon fiber reinforced composites are widely used as aerospace materials owing to their superior properties like high specific strength and high fracture toughness. Oxidation above 600 °C is one of the major problems encountered with carbon–carbon composites. Replacement of carbon matrix with SiC is one of the methods to improve the oxidation resistance. A relatively inexpensive process is developed for the fabrication of carbon fiber reinforced SiC composites through solution approach. This process allowed forming high purity and fine-grained matrix in the fiber reinforced composites. Carbon fiber tow mini-composites were fabricated using this process. Typical tensile strength and fracture energy of these composites were 316 MPa and 0.74 MJ/m3 at room temperature (RT). The composites exhibited load-carrying capability after crack initiation.