High-temperature tensile strength of near-stoichiometric SiC/SiC composites

In an attempt to characterize mechanical properties of near-stoichiometric SiC/SiC composites, tensile tests were conducted at room temperature in air and at elevated temperature under mild oxidizing gases atmosphere. SiC/SiC composites were fabricated by forced-flow chemical vapor infiltration method using two-dimensional fabrics of carbon coated near-stoichiometric Tyranno™SA fibers. Tensile tests were conducted on composites with two types of lay-up schemes using edge-loading small specimens. The effect of lay-up orientation on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of composites were also examined. Tensile strength of composite was slightly decreased at 1573 K, while it retained approximately 80% of the strength at room temperature. Porosity dependence on elastic modulus was clearly exhibited.