In this study, an effort has been made to improve the mechanical, thermal, and ablation performance of carbon-phenolic (C-Ph) composites. The ZrO 2 , SiC, and ZrO 2 /SiC hybrid fillers were synthesized using sol-gel method followed by individual incorporation into C-Ph composites. The thermal stability and flexural strength of these C-Ph composites were analyzed using thermogravimetry analysis and three-point bending test, respectively. A significant improvement in the flexural strength and modulus of the reinforced C-Ph composites was observed and also exhibited the higher thermal stability. The oxyacetylene flame test was conducted to measure the ablation behavior of these filler reinforced C-Ph composites under a heat flux of 4.0 MW/m 2 for 60 seconds. ZrO 2 /SiC0.5 reinforcement in the C-Ph composite decreased the linear and mass ablation rates by 46% and 22%, respectively when compared with pure C-Ph composite. The surface morphology analysis revealed that the burnt composite covered with the ZrC ceramic phase and SiO 2 bubble-like structure, which could have improved the ablation resistance of composites. These results were found well within the acceptable range when using the surface energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.
K E Y W O R D Sablation behavior, carbon fiber, flexural strength, nano silicon carbide, thermal stability