Microstructure analysis of Cf/SiC–ZrC composites in both fabrication and plasma wind tunnel testing processes

Two kinds of C/SiC–ZrC composites were fabricated through different methods in this study. For composite S, ZrC was just incorporated through the impregnation of slurry containing ZrC particles. For the other composite S⁎, infiltration and pyrolysis of the ethanol dissolvable polyzirconoxanesal (PSZ) was performed and some more ZrC was synthesized via in-situ carbothermal reduction reaction between PSZ derived ZrO2 and carbon. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to characterize the distribution of ZrC, the morphology of composite fracture surface as well as the ablated surface of composite S⁎. Based on the SEM analysis results, the microstructure evolution as well as the ablation behavior of C/SiC–ZrC composites was discussed.