Ablation behavior and mechanism of Cf/SiBCN composites in plasma ablation flame

In this work, Cf/SiBCN composites are fabricated by an improved precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) approach. Ablation behavior of the Cf/SiBCN composites is investigated in plasma ablation flame at a heat flux of 4.02 MW m(-2), which provides a quasi-real hypersonic service environment at a temperature up to 2200 degrees C. After ablation, the ablated surface is covered with oxidation products in the form of oxide layer, fibrous residues, or bubbles, which effectively isolates the sample surface from the plasma flame and inhibits the scouring of high-speed flame to the composites. As a result, the Cf/SiBCN composites present an excellent ablation-resistant property, with linear and mass recession rates as low as 0.0030 mm s(-1) and 0.0539 mg mm(-2) s(-1), respectively. It is also revealed that the material at ablation center undergoes crystallization and oxidation processes during ablation, while the ablation behavior at transition area and ablation fringe only contains oxidation process due to the local temperature difference. Si3N4 and SiC grains are precipitated from amorphous SiBCN matrix during the crystallization process, and the oxidation process mainly involves the oxidation of carbon fiber and SiBCN matrix, etc.