Selective growth of SiC nanowires in interlaminar matrix for improving in-plane strengths of laminated Carbon/Carbon composites

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2019.07.001

Abstract

Abstract:

β-SiC nanowires (SiCNWs) were selectively grown in the interlaminar matrix with a volume fraction of 0.65% by applying a pyrocarbon coating on carbon fibers, which realizes the proper reinforcement of C/C composites. The thickness of the pyrocarbon is optimized to 0.5?μm based on the analysis of in-situ fiber strengths with the fracture mirror method. The pyrocarbon coating increased the in-situ fiber strength by ˜7% and prevent brittle fracture of the composites. Compared with C/C, the interlaminar shear and flexural strength of SiCNW-C/C (10.06?MPa and 162.44?MPa) increase by 158% and 57%. Incorporating SiCNWs changes the crystallite orientations and refines the crystallite size of pyrocarbon matrix. The functions of SiCNWs vary with their loading density. When SiCNWs are sufficient in the matrix, they help reinforcing and improving the critical failure stress of the matrix. When their density decreases to a certain degree, SiCNWs help changing the crystallite orientations of pyrocarbon and toughening the matrix.

Key words: Carbon/carbon composites, SiC nanowire, Interlaminar strength

Qiang Song, Qingliang Shen, Qiangang Fu, Hejun Li. Selective growth of SiC nanowires in interlaminar matrix for improving in-plane strengths of laminated Carbon/Carbon composites[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2019, 35(12): 2799-2808.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig. 1. (a) Illustration of the preparation process of SiCNW-C/C composites; (b) 3D model of the as-prepared composites with defined viewpoints (the top right-hand corner shows the fiber arrangement in the carbon fiber cloth that have been used); (c) schematic setup for interlaminar shear tests; (d) schematic setup for three-point bending tests.

Fig. 2. Characterization of the SiCNWs preparation process: (a) morphology of carbon fibers after the deposition of pyrocarbon coating from the front view (upper-right corner: cross section of the coating); (b) morphology of SiCNWs on the coating from the front view (upper-right corner: amplified morphology of SiCNWs); (c) TEM images of SiCNWs (upper-right corner: SEAD of the SiCNWs); (d) HRTEM image of SiCNWs in (c).

Fig. 3. Weibull distribution diagrams of the fiber strength varying with pyrocarbon coating thickness after the growth of SiCNWs.

Fig. 4. The mean fiber strengths varying with pyrocarbon coating thickness calculated from the Weibull distribution parameters.

Fig. 5. (a) PLM images of C/C composites and (b) PLM images of SiCNW-C/C composites; (c) SEM morphology of pyrocarbon in C/C composites; (d) SEM morphology of SiCNW embedded in pyrocarbon at the transition layer in (b); (e) Raman spectrums of pyrocarbon in C/C and SiCNW-C/C composites; (f) pore diameter distribution of C/C and SiCNW-C/C composites.

Fig. 6. Interlaminar shear test results for the samples: (a) typical load-displacement curves under interlaminar shear test conditions for C/C and SiCNW-C/C composites; (b) interlaminar shear strengths for C/C and SiCNW-C/C composites.

Fig. 7. Three-point bending test results for the samples: (a) typical load-displacement curves under three-point bending test conditions for C/C and SiCNW-C/C composites; (b) flexural strengths for C/C and SiCNW-C/C composites.

Fig. 8. Fracture morphology of C/C composites from the front view after interlaminar shear tests: (a) typical shear fracture surface morphology for C/C composites; (b) morphology of the attached parts from the neighboring layer after shear fracture; (c) higher magnification morphology of area 2.

Fig. 9. Fracture morphology of SiCNW-C/C composites from the front view after interlaminar shear tests: (a) typical shear fracture surface morphology for SiCNW-C/C composites; (b) morphology of the attached parts from the neighboring layer after shear fracture; (c) higher magnification morphology of (b); (d) morphology of carbon fiber surface at the surface opposite to (c).

Fig. 10. SEM morphology of C/C composites after flexure tests: (a) side view of C/C composites after three-point bending test; (b) front view of the sample; (c) cross section view of the fracture ((upper-right corner: higher magnification fracture morphology of one single carbon fiber bundle).

Fig. 11. SEM morphology of SiCNW-C/C composites after flexure tests: (a) side view of SiCNW-C/C composites after three-point bending test; (b) front view of the sample; (c) cross section view of the fracture; (d) typical high magnification fracture surface from the cross section view where density of SiCNW is high; (e) typical surface morphology of the pulled-out fiber; (f) pulled-out and fracture of SiCNWs embedded in pyrocarbon matrix; (g) typical fracture morphology where pyrocarbon growth surrounding each single SiCNW from the cross section view; (h) illustration of crack deflection and pulling out of SiCNWs in the pyrocarbon matrix.

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