Combustion Gas Heating Tests of C/C Composites Coated with SiC Layer

In order to examine the applicability of carbon fiber/carbon matrix composites coated with a silicon carbide layer (C/C‐SiCs) to an advanced nozzle for the future reusable rocket engines, two series of combustion gas heating tests were conducted using a small rocket combustor. In the first series of heating tests, five different kinds of C/C‐SiCs were tested with specimens in the shape of a square plate for material screening. In the second series of heating tests, two selected C/C‐SiCs were tested with specimens in the shape of a small nozzle. The effectiveness of an interlayer between a C/C composite and a SiC layer, which was introduced to improve the durability based on the concept of functionally graded materials (FGMs), can be observed. The typical damage mode was also pointed out in the results of heating test using the small nozzle specimens.