Fabrication of improved flexural strength C/SiC composites via LA-CVI method using optimized spacing of mass transfer channels

The traditional chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) method still faces massive challenge in improving the densification owing to its unavoidable bottleneck effect. Herein, laser assisted-chemical vapor infiltration (LA-CVI) was introduced to fabricate C/SiC composites with mass transfer channels. As a result, the densities of the C/SiC composites were improved due to the dense band formed during the LA-CVI process. Also, with different spacing of mass transfer channels, C/SiC composites exhibited enhanced degree of densification varying from 2.10 to 2.23 g/cm(3). When the spacing of channels was 3 mm, the maximum value of flexural strength reached 528 +/- 12 MPa. Additionally, micro-CT and finite element analysis were empolyed to investigate dense band and density gradient in detail. The results show that C/SiC composites prepared via LA-CVI method with suitable spacing of channels had improved density and great flexural strength. The proposed method provides a novel route for the preparation of ceramic matrix composites with high density.