Thermal and electrical properties of hot-pressed short pitch-based carbon fiber-reinforced ZrB2–SiC matrix composites

Short pitch-based carbon fiber-reinforced ZrB2-20 vol% SiC matrix composites, with fiber volume fractions in the range of 0–50%, were manufactured by a hot-press process. Highly dense composite compacts were obtained at 2000 °C and 20 MPa for 60 min in Ar atmosphere. The microstructure of the resulting composites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The thermal and electrical properties of the composites were evaluated at room temperature. The effects of fiber volume fraction on these properties were assessed. The thermal and electrical conductivities decreased with increase of fiber volume fraction. The thermal conductivities of the composites were 48.3–104.7 W m−1 K−1. The electrical conductivities of the composites were in the range 0.79×104–3.02×104 Ω−1 cm−1.