Strength and toughness of cellular SiC at elevated temperature

Bending strength and toughness of β-SiC foams were measured from ambient temperature to 1400 °C. It was found that SiC was able to maintain the mechanical properties up to 1200 °C even after long-term exposure at this temperature. Creep deformation was not detected and the negative effects of oxidation at this temperature were balanced by the healing effect induced by the formation of SiO2. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties were rapidly degraded at 1400 °C as a consequence of massive oxidation of SiC.