Microstructure and mechanical properties of Cf/ZrC composites fabricated by reactive melt infiltration at relatively low temperature

Carbon fiber-reinforced zirconium carbide matrix composites (Cf/ZrC) were prepared by vacuum infiltrating porous carbon/carbon preforms with molten Zr2Cu alloy at 1200 °C. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microcopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis were used to characterize the composition and microstructure of the final composites. It was found that the matrix of the composites were composed of the Cu–Zr–C amorphous phase dispersed with either single- or polycrystalline ZrC. Based on the microstructural analysis, the formation mechanism of the matrix was proposed to be a solution-precipitation and grain coalescence process. The influence of the heat treatment at 1800 °C was also investigated. Results indicated that at very high temperature the volatilization of residual metal somewhat deteriorated the flexural strength and the elastic modulus, but the fracture toughness of the composites was improved due to the sintering of ZrC grains.