Fatigue behavior and oxidation resistance of carbon/ceramic composites reinforced with continuous carbon fibers

The aim of this work was to compare fatigue behavior and oxidation resistance of pitch-derived CC (carbon) composite with CC/ceramic (carbon/ceramic) composites obtained by impregnation of CC composite with polysiloxane-based preceram and their subsequent heat treatment. Two types of CC/ceramic composites were studied; CC/SiCO composite obtained at 1000 °C, and CC/SiC composite obtained at 1700 °C. Both types of composites show much better fatigue mechanical performance in comparison to pure CC composite. CC/SiCO composite had 3 times better fatigue properties, and CC/SiC composite 4.5 times better fatigue properties than the reference CC composite. After a fatigue test composites partially retain their mechanical properties, and normalized residual modulus in the direction perpendicular to laminates exceeds 50% for CC and CC/SiCO composites. In the other directions normalized residual modulus is higher than 80% for all composites. Oxidative tests led at 600 °C in air atmosphere indicated oxidation resistance of CC/SiC composites.