Effect of additive content on transient liquid phase sintering in SiC nanopowder infiltrated SiCf/SiC composites

SiC nanopowder infiltrated SiCf/SiC composites with a high fiber volume fraction above 50 vol.% were prepared at a relatively low fabrication temperature of 1800 °C by transient liquid phase sintering using Al2O3–Y2O3–SiO2 additives. The effects of additive content with 6–18 wt.% were investigated, based on densification, microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of the composites. The results showed that the densification and mechanical properties of the composites were greatly improved with the additive content. Microstructural observation indicated that the infiltration of SiC nanopowder inside fiber-bundles were enchanced with the increase of additive content due to the effectively widen space by the reaction between pyrocarbon (PyC) interface and the additives especially with the addition of SiO2. It proven that the enchanced matrix–PyC interface bonding by the high densification inside fiber-bundles played a key role in the improved mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of the composites.