Effect of Interface Coating on High Temperature Mechanical Properties of SiC–SiC Composite Using Domestic Hi–Nicalon Type SiC Fibers

Abstract

Here we show that when the temperature exceeded 1200 °C, the tensile strength drops sharply with change of fracture mode from fiber pull-out to fiber-break. Theoretical analysis indicates that the reduction of tensile strength and change of fracture mode is due to the variation of residual radial stress on the fiber–matrix interface coating. When the temperature exceeds the preparation temperature of the composites, the residual radial stress on the fiber–matrix interface coating changes from tensile to compressive, leading to the increase of the interface strength with increasing temperature. The fracture behavior of SiC–SiC composites changes from ductile to brittle when the strength of fiber–matrix interface coating exceeds the critical value. Theoretical analysis predicts that the high temperature tensile strength can increase with a decrease in fiber–matrix interface thickness, which is verified by experiments.