The properties of carbon fibre/SiC composites fabricated through impregnation and pyrolysis of polycarbosilane

1573-4803

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract Unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced SiC composites were prepared from four types of carbon fibres, PAN-based HSCF, pitch-based HMCF, CF50 and CF70, through nine cycles or twelve cycles of impregnation of polycarbosilane and subsequent pyrolysis at 1200°C. The polycarbosilane-derived matrix was found to be β-SiC with a crystallite size of 1.95 nm. The mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated by four-point bending tests. The fracture behavior of each composite was investigated based on load-displacement curves and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of fracture surfaces of the specimens after tests. It was found that CF50/SiC and CF70/SiC exhibited high strength and non-brittle fracture mode with multiple matrix cracking and extensive fibre pullout, whereas HSCF/SiC and HMCF/SiC exhibited low strength and brittle fracture mode with almost no fibre pullout. The differences in the fracture modes of these carbon fibre/SiC composites were thought to be due to differences in interfacial bonding between carbon fibres and matrix. Values of flexural strengths of CF70/SiC and CF50/SiC were 967 MPa and 624 MPa, respectively, which were approximately 75% and 38% of the predicted values. The relatively lower strength of CF50/SiC, compared with CF70/SiC, was mainly attributed to the shear failure of CF50/SiC during bending tests.

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