Erosion and strength degradation of biomorphic SiC

Solid-particle-erosion studies were conducted on biomorphic SiC based on eucalyptus and pine, reaction-bonded (RB) SiC, and hot-pressed (HP) SiC. The erodents were angular SiC abrasives of average diameter 63, 143, or 390 μm and the impact velocity was 100 m s−1. Impact occurred at normal incidence. Material loss in all targets occurred by brittle fracture. The biomorphic specimens eroded by formation of both lateral and radial cracks and their erosion rates were higher than both conventional SiCs. The RB SiC eroded as a classic brittle material, by formation and propagation of lateral cracks. The HP SiC, the hardest target, was the most erosion resistant. In erosion of the HP SiC, the abrasive particles, especially the largest ones, fragmented upon impact. The resulting dissipation of energy led to relatively low erosion rates. Flexural strength before and after erosion was measured for the biomorphic eucalyptus, RB SiC, and HP SiC. Erosion damage reduced the flexural strengths of all of the specimens. The relative strength reductions were lowest for the biomorphic eucalyptus and highest for the HP SiC. The hot-pressed SiC responded as predicted by accepted models of impact damage in brittle solids. The responses of the biomorphic and reaction-bonded SiC specimens were modeled as if they consisted of only SiC and porosity. This approximation agreed reasonably well with observed degradations of strength.