Achieving synergy of load-carrying capability and damage tolerance in a ZrB2-SiC composite reinforced through discontinuous carbon fiber

Abstract Achieving synergy between load-carrying capability and excellent damage tolerance is one of the most concerned issues in the ultra-high temperature ceramic field. Herein, ZrB2-SiC-Cf composite with homogenous architecture was constructed by a novel pressure filtration and slurry infiltration accompanied by low-temperature hot pressing. The composite exhibited a typical non-brittle fracture feature owing to crack deflection, crack bifurcation and fiber pull-out mechanisms, resulting in a reliable specific flexural strength of 75 MPa/(g/cm3) and superior work of fracture of 672 J/m2.