High frequent cyclic ablations of AlSi alloy modified C/C-SiC-ZrB2-ZrC at different temperatures

Modified C/C composites are promising candidates to the advanced piston of internal engine, pantograph slide plate and rapid-fire gun barrel. To understand the corrosion in the working conditions of these thermal components, cyclic ablations of C/C-SiC-ZrB2-ZrC (C/C-SZZ) were carried out in high frequent impacted combustions at different temperatures (700–2300 ℃). Parallel study of AlSi alloy modified C/C-SiC-ZrB2-ZrC (C/C-SZZ-AS) which had lower cost was performed synchronously for comparison. Results indicated that the ablation rates of both the composites went down with decreased temperature while C/C-SZZ-AS presented a faster decline. Compared with C/C-SZZ, the pressure infiltrated AlSi alloy matrix of C/C-SZZ-AS raised the conductivity and specific heat capacity but reduced the emissivity, which led to a lower surface temperature and thermal gradient during ablation. And combined with the better plasticity and toughness of the alloy matrix, C/C-SZZ had stronger ablation resistance below 1500 ℃ in the serious thermal shock. At temperature above 1500 ℃, excessive phase transformation of the AlSi alloy matrix caused more defects and strengthened the mechanical erosion. And then the faster consumption of the AlSi alloy resulted in the greatly worsened ablation property of C/C-SZZ at 2300 ℃.