Room and Elevated Temperature Mechanical Properties of Hot-Pressed Uni-Cf/SiO2 Composite

Abstract

Unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced fused silica (uni-Cf/SiO2) composite was prepared by slurry infiltration and hot-pressing. The room and elevated temperatures flexural properties were investigated and the fracture features of the composite were observed. This composite exhibited non-catastrophic failure at room and elevated temperatures. The oxidation of carbon fiber at elevated temperatures was the main reason for the degradation of flexural strength and elastic modulus. The flexural strength tested at 1200 was 376MPa and exhibited anomalously higher than that at 1000 (277MPa), which was attributed to the viscous flow of fused silica matrix and therefore the occurrence of microcracking in the matrix was deferred. And it was inferred that the brittle to plastic transition temperature (Tb-p) of uni-Cf/SiO2 composite corresponded to a certain temperature around 1200°C.