Oxidation-affected zone in the sintered ZrB2–SiC–HfB2 composites

Understanding the behavior of ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) against oxidation is of particular importance in high-temperature applications. In this study, ZrB2–SiC–HfB2 UHTC composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) method at different temperatures, times, and pressures to investigate the effects of sintering process variables on their oxidation resistance. Before the oxidation tests, the as-sintered samples contained ZrB2 and SiC phases with (Zr,Hf)B2 solid solution. The samples were subjected to oxidative conditions at 1400 °C and their relative mass changes were measured as a function of oxidation time up to 20 hours. FESEM and EDS equipment were used for microstructural and elemental analyzes of cross-sections of different oxide layers. Due to the oxygen diffusion, ZrO2 and SiO2 phases appeared alongside (Zr, Hf)O2 in the surface layers. After identifying the several oxides and SiC-depleted layers in the oxidation-affected zone, a schematic model for the arrangement of such layers was proposed.