Effects of the single layer CVD SiC interphases on the mechanical properties of the C/SiC composites fabricated by PIP process

Owing to the degradation of the mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced SiC matrix (C/SiC) composites under oxidation environment and high-temperature annealing, single layer SiC interphases prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process were employed. Effects of the CVD SiC interphases on the mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of the C/SiC composites fabricated by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process were investigated. Uniform and smooth β-SiC fiber coating about 1.3 μm thick was deposited on carbon fibers by CVD process. Compared with the as-received C/SiC composites, the composites with SiC interphases exhibited an obvious toughened fracture behavior after high-temperature annealing, which were advantageous of the improvement of the mechanical properties of C/SiC composites. The oxidation resistance of composites with CVD–SiC interphases was much better than that of composites without interphase.