Design, fabrication, characterization and simulation of PIP-SiC/SiC composites

Continuous SiC fiber reinforced SiC matrix composites (SiC/SiC) have been studied and developed for high temperature and fusion applications. Polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) is a conventional technique for fabricating SiC/SiC composites. In this research, KD-1 SiC fibers were employed as reinforcements, a series of coatings such as pyrocarbon (PyC), SiC and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized as interphases, PCS and LPVCS were used as precursors and SiC/SiC composites were prepared via the PIP method. The mechanical properties of the SiC/SiC composites were characterized. Relationship between the interphase shear strength and the fracture toughness of the composites was established. X-ray tomographic scans of the SiC/SiC composites were performed and the closed porosities of the composites were calculated. The compatibility of the SiC/SiC composites with liquid LiPb at 800 °C and 1000 °C was investigated. High-resolution synchrotron X-ray tomography was applied to the SiC/SiC composite and digital volume correlation was employed for Hertzian indentation testing of the SiC/SiC composite. A Cellular Automata integrated with Finite Elements (CAFE) method was developed to account for the effect of microstructure on the fracture behavior of the SiC/SiC composite.