• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.61-75
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• 2009

The effect of porous matrix on thermal fatigue behavior of 3D-orthogonally woven SiC/SiC composite was evaluated in comparison with that having relatively dense matrix. The porous matrix yields open air passages through its thickness which can be utilized for transpiration cooling. On the other hand, the latter matrix is so dense that the air passages are sealed. A quantity of the matrix was varied by changing the number of repetition cycles of the polymer impregnation pyrolysis (PIP). Strength degradation of composites under thermal cycling conditions was evaluated by the $1200^{\circ}C$/RT thermal cycles with a combination of burner heating and air cooling for 200 cycles. It was found that the SiC/SiC composite with the porous matrix revealed little degradation in strength during the thermal cycles, while the other sample showed a 25% decrease in strength. Finally it was demonstrated that the porous structure in 3D-SiC/SiC composite improved the thermal fatigue durability.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.430-434
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• 2014

$SiC_f$/SiC composites were prepared using the hybrid process of chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP). Before the application of PIP, partially matrix-filled preform composites with different densities were fabricated by control of chemical vapor infiltration time and temperature. The changes of the final density of the $SiC_f$/SiC composites had a tendency similar to that of preform composites partially filled by CVI. Composites with lower density after the CVI process had a larger increment of density during the PIP process. Three types of microstructures were observed on the fractured surface of the composite: 1) well pulled-out fibers and lower density, 2) slightly pulled-out fibers and higher density, and 3) only bulk SiC. The different fractions and distributions of the microstructures could have an effect on the mechanical properties of the composites. In this study, $SiC_f$/SiC composites prepared using a hybrid process of CVI and PIP had density values in the range of $1.05{\sim}1.44g/cm^3$, tensile strength values in the range of 76.4 ~ 130.7 MPa, and fracture toughness values in the range of $11.2{\sim}13.5MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.575-580
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• 2009

Carbon fabric-reinforced silicon carbide composites (C/SiC) have attracted a considerable attention for high temperature structural application because of their outstanding oxidation resistance property and thermal shock resistance. In this study, we reported on the preparation of C/SiC composites by the polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) method. For this, polycarbosilane solution was impregnated into the carbon fabric and then cured by electron beam irradiation under argon atmosphere. Afterwards, the cured composite was pyrolyzed at $1300^{\circ}C$ for 1 h under argon atmosphere to produce the C/SiC composite. The porosity and density of the C/SiC composite were 13.5% and $2.44\;g/cm^3$, respectively, when the impregnation of the carbon fabric with the 30 wt% polycarbosilane solution conducted four times. In addition, in the isothermal experiment at $1500\;^{\circ}C$ in air for 5 h, the 95.9 wt% of the C/SiC composite was remained, indicating that the prepared C/SiC composite has a outstanding oxidation resistance.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.523-530
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• 2017

In this study, we developed the h-BN interphase for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) through a wet chemical coating method, which has excellent price competitiveness and is a simple process as a departure from the existing high cost chemical vapor deposition method. The optimum condition for nitriding an h-BN interphase using boric acid and urea as precursors were derived, and the h-BN interphase coating through a wet method on a carbon preform of 2.5 D was conducted to apply the optimum conditions to the CMCs. In order to control the coating property via the wet coating method, four parameters were investigated such as dipping time of the specimen in the precursor solution, the ratio of boric acid and urea in the precursor, the concentration of solution where the precursor was dissolved, and the cycle of dipping and dry process. The CMCs was fabricated through polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) processes and a three-point flexural strength test was conducted to verify the role of the coated h-BN interphase.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2016

Nuclear fuel cladding used in a nuclear power plant must possess superior oxidation resistance in the coolant atmosphere of high temperature/high pressure. However, as was the case for the critical LOCA (loss-of-coolant accident) accident that took place in the Fukushima disaster, there is a risk of hydrogen explosion when the nuclear fuel cladding and steam reacts dramatically to cause a rapid high-temperature oxidation accompanied by generation of a huge amount of hydrogen. Hence, an active search is ongoing for an alternative material to be used for manufacturing of nuclear fuel cladding. Studies are currently aimed at improving the safety of this cladding. In particular, ceramic-based nuclear fuel cladding, such as SiC, is receiving much attention due to the excellent radiation resistance, high strength, chemical durability against oxidation and corrosion, and excellent thermal conduction of ceramics. In the present study, cladding with $SiC_f/SiC$ protective films was fabricated using a process that forms a matrix phase by polymer impregnation of polycarbosilane (PCS) after filament-winding the SiC fiber onto an existing Zry-4 cladding tube. It is analyzed the oxidation and microstructure of the metal cladding with $SiC_f/SiC$ composite protective films using a drop tube furnace for thermal shock test.