New porous silicon carbide composite reinforced by intact high-strength carbon fibres

A novel processing method to produce a carbon-fibre-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) is presented and the mechanical properties are evaluated. The low-cost process yields a reaction bonded silicon carbide matrix but avoids efficiently reactive damage of the carbon fibres. Thus, the C/SiC-material shows a fibre-dominated behaviour due to high fibre strength and matrix porosity. The characteristics and mechanical properties of this C/SiC are highlighted. The discussion deals with the particular mechanical characteristics of porous-matrix materials relating to similar materials investigated hitherto.