Development of SiC Fiber-Reinforced SiC Composites with High Performance Based on Interfacial and Microstructure Control

Abstract

Continuous SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix composites (SiC_f/SiC) have been considered to be a key material as structural components for aerospace and energy fields. Our novel fabrication process of continuous SiC_f/SiC composites with high performance based on interfacial and microstructure control and our approach to improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of SiCf/SiC composite based on modeling and analysis were reviewed. The simple fabrication process of two-dimensional SiC_f/SiC composite using sheet stacking, hot-pressing and electrochemical process was developed. Interfacial properties of the composite were quantitatively evaluated, and these results lead to the material design of the composite with high mechanical properties and the optimization of its fabrication process. Simple model of thermal conductivity of the composite was suggested by our experimental data, and higher thermal conductivity of the composite was successfully achieved.