Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Zirconium Dioxide Modified Carbon/Carbon Composites

Abstract

To improve the preparation technology and mechanical properties of carbon/carbon composites, a kind of Zirconium dioxide modified Carbon/carbon (C/C–ZrO2) composites were prepared by Sol-Gel Process combined with isothermal chemical vapor infiltration (ICVI) method. This method could shorten preparation cycle greatly to reduce the cost. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the C/C–ZrO2 composites were investigated. The results indicate that the ZrO2 modified phase is uniformly distributed in the carbon matrix, the bending strength and modulus of C/C–ZrO2 composites are much higher than unmodified C/C composites due to its particle toughening and fiber toughening.