Densification of C_f/SiC Composite Using PIP with Adding of Cyclohexene

Abstract

Carbon fiber-reinforced SiC matrix composites have good oxidation resistance and thermal shock resistance. These properties have allowed the composites to be applied to high-temperature structures. In this study, C f /SiC composites were fabricated via precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process, including liquid phase infiltration and chemical vapor curing using cyclohexene. The final C f /SiC composites, which have gone through the PIP process five times, showed a density of 1.79 g/cm 3 , as compared to a density of 0.43 g/cm 3 for pre-densified bare carbon fiber preform. As for the oxidation resistance characteristics, the weight of C f /SiC composite was maintained at 81% at 1400 o C in air for 6 hours. Chemical vapor curing (CVC) using cyclohexene has shown to be an effective method to achieve high densification, leading to increased oxidation resistance.