Abstract:
Silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide composites (SiC
f/SiC) have great potential to be used in the thermal structure of next-generation aero-engines. The creep rupture time
tu of SiC
f/SiC significantly reduced at intermediate temperatures (~800℃). Therefore, this paper investigated the creep rupture behaviors of a plain weave SiC
f/SiC (2D-SiC
f/SiC) at 500℃, 800℃ and 1000℃ with stresses of 100 MPa to 160 MPa in air. The morphology, microstructure and compositions of the crept specimens were observed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and an energy dispersive analysis system. The results show that the
tu of 2D-SiC
f/SiC is closely related to the applied temperatures and stresses. At the same temperature,
tu decreases with the increasing stresses at constant temperatures. When the temperature is 800℃ and the stress is greater than the proportional limit stress (PLS), embrittlement takes place for the 2D-SiC
f/SiC, which means the
tu and the total creep strain
are much shorter than those at 500℃ and 1000℃. The embrittlement mechanisms involve matrix cracking, oxidization of BN and formation of strong fiber/matrix interphase bonding by the filling of SiO
2, as well as for the 2D-SiC
f/SiC at intermediate temperatures.
tu vs. the applied stress follows linear relationship in logarithmic axis, whose transition appears when the applied stress equals to PLS.