Modeling for the Fabrication Process of a ϕ1185 mm C/C Composite Thermal Insulation Tube in an Isothermal Chemical Vapor Infiltration Reactor

Abstract

The large-size chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of the carbon/carbon (C/C) composite thermal insulation tube is a key component for drawing large diameter monocrystalline silicon rods. However, the CVI densification process is complex, and the cost of experiment optimization is extremely high. In this article, a multi-physics coupling simulation model was established and validated based on COMSOL Multiphysics v.5.6 software to simulate the fabrication process of an isothermal CVI process for a Φ1185 mm C/C composite thermal insulation tube. The influence of process parameters on densification was explored, and a method of optimization was proposed. Our modeling results revealed that the deposition status in areas of low densification was effectively and significantly enhanced after process optimization. At the monitoring site, the carbon density was no less than 1.08 × 103 kg·m−3, the average density of the composite-material thermal insulation tube improved by 5.7%, and the densification rate increased by 26.5%. This article effectively simulates the CVI process of large-sized C/C composite thermal insulation tubes, providing an important technical reference scheme for the preparation of large-sized C/C composite thermal insulation tubes.