Multiscale heat conduction and fractal oxidation behaviors of needle-punched carbon/carbon composites

Abstract Needle-punched (NP) carbon/carbon composites (CCCs) are widely used in structures re-entering the atmosphere of aerospace, thanks to their excellent mechanical properties. They are easily oxidized at high temperatures with atmospheric oxygen. The oxidation behavior is influenced by the process of heat conduction. In this study, longitudinal and transverse heat conduction in micro- and mesoscale models of CCCs was investigated. It was established that the heat transfer interface of a fiber bundle demonstrated peak-like morphology, while the punching structures of composites slowed down the process of heat conduction. Oxidation behavior of NP CCCs was predicted with a fractional Brownian motion strategy. It was found that the oxidized fiber bundles formed “bamboo shoots” morphology due to different oxidation rates of the matrix and fibers. Stochastic oxidation behavior was successfully described with this fractal strategy.