TaB2-SiC-Si multiphase oxidation protective coating for SiC-coated carbon/carbon composites

To improve the oxidation resistance of the carbon/carbon (C/C) composites, a TaB2-SiC-Si multiphase oxidation protective ceramic coating was prepared on the surface of SiC coated C/C composites by pack cementation. Results showed that the outer multiphase coating was mainly composed of TaB2, SiC and Si. The multilayer coating is about 200 pm in thickness, which has no penetration crack or big hole. The coating could protect C/C from oxidation for 300 h with only 0.26 x 10(-2) g(2)/cm(2) mass loss at 1773 K in air. The formed silicate glass layer containing SiO2 and tantalum oxides can not only seal the defects in the coating, but also reduce oxygen diffusion rates, thus improving the oxidation resistance. 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.