Creep damage resistance of ceramic–matrix composites

The tensile creep and creep fracture properties in air at 1300 °C are documented for two ceramic fibre-reinforced ceramic–matrix composites (CFCMCs). These recently developed materials were produced with woven bundles of Hi-Nicalon™ fibres reinforcing either A12O3 or enhanced SiBC matrices, allowing data comparisons to be made with similar CFCMCs having different fibre–matrix combinations. The results confirm that the longitudinal fibres govern the rates of strain accumulation and crack growth, but the fracture characteristics are determined by fibre failure caused by oxygen penetration as matrix cracks develop. The analysis then suggests that carbon fibre-reinforced doloma–matrix composites could offer a combination of creep-resistant fibres and creep damage-resistant matrices suitable for long-term load-bearing service in high-temperature oxidizing environments.