Improved ablation resistance of C-C composites using zirconium diboride and boron carbide

Zirconium diboride and boron carbide particles were used to Improve the ablation resistance of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites at high temperature (1500 degrees C) Our approach combines using a precursor to ZrB2 and processing them with B4C particles as filler material within the C-C composite An oxyacetylene torch test facility was used to determine ablation rates for carbon black, B4C, and ZrB2-B4C filled C-C composites from 800 to 1500 degrees C Ablation rates decreased by 30% when C-C composites were filled with a combination of ZrB2-B4C particles over carbon black and B4C filled C-C composites We also investigated using a sol-gel precursor method as an alternative processing route to incorporate ZrB2 particles within C-C composites. We successfully converted ZrB2 particles within C-C composites at relatively low temperatures (1200 degrees C) Our ablation results suggest that a combination of ZrB2-B4C particles is effective in inhibiting the oxidation of C-C composites at temperatures greater than 1500 degrees C (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved