Mechanical behavior of C/SiC composites under simulated space environments

Mechanical behavior of C/SiC composites under simulated space environments including vacuum, cold and thermal cycling have been investigated. Specimens were put into liquid nitrogen for 60 days, maintained in the vacuum box of 6.0 × 10−3 Pa for 8 h and thermally cycled between the temperatures of −196 °C and 200 °C for up to 100 cycles, respectively. Mechanical testing showed that there were no significant changes in the flexural properties or interlaminar shear strengths as well as the associated fracture mode of C/SiC composites. The microstructure of C/SiC composites were examined via SEM. Micrographs showed there were no obvious distinctions between specimens as received or the ones treated. Results show that C/SiC composites have good mechanical stability in above simulated space environments.