Influence of infiltration matrix types on ablation resistance of C/C-SiC-ZrC-Cu composites by low-temperature reactive melt infiltration

Ultra-high temperature ceramics modified carbon/carbon composites, crucial for aerospace throats, require enhanced ablation resistance in extreme environments. Inspiring by the active cooling properties of Cu in thermal protection systems, C/C-SiC-ZrC-Cu composites were prepared by two-step low-temperature reactive melt infiltration using ZrCu infiltration material. The effects of the different ZrCu materials on the microstructure and ablation resistance of the C/C-SiC-ZrC-Cu composites were investigated. The C/C-SiC-ZrC-Cu composites exhibited a uniform composition and stable structure, with an open porosity of about 5 % and a density of about 2.80 g/cm³. During the plasma ablation testing, the modified composites exhibited mass and linear ablation rates of 4.50 mg/s and − 1.50 μm/s after 20 s and 5.25 mg/s and 0.88 μm/s after 40 s, respectively. The substantial enhancement in short-term ablation resistance of the composites can be attributed to the synergistic effects of the ablation resistance and self-healing capabilities of the SiO₂-ZrO₂ layer, coupled with the active cooling effect of Cu evaporation.