Morphology and microstructure of SiC/SiC composites ablated by oxyacetylene torch at 1800°C

An oxyacetylene torch tested the ablation of SiC/SiC composites at 1800celcius. According to the distribution of ablation product silica, the morphology could be divided into three regions. The fibers in the oval central region were ablated and broken, and the fracture surface is the conical tip. The silica liquid film in the transition region plays a role in resisting the ablation of the material. However, the generation of airflow channels destroys the liquid film's continuity and reduces the material's ablation resistance. Bean sprouts-like nano-sized silica was grown on the surface of the dome-top SiC matrix in the marginal region.

Automated summary

The ablation of SiC/SiC composites tested at 1800 degrees Celsius showed three different regions based on the distribution of silica ablation product. The silica liquid film played a key role in resisting the material's ablation, but was disrupted by airflow channels, reducing the material's resistance. Nano-sized silica structures were found to grow on the surface of the SiC matrix in the marginal region.