Ablation-resistant carbide Zr0.8Ti0.2C0.74B0.26 for oxidizing environments up to 3,000 degrees celsius.

Title Ablation-resistant carbide Zr0.8Ti0.2C0.74B0.26 for oxidizing environments up to 3,000 degrees celsius.
Authors Y. Zeng; D. Wang; X. Xiong; X. Zhang; P.J. Withers; W. Sun; M. Smith; M. Bai; P. Xiao
Journal Nat Commun
DOI 10.1038/ncomms15836
Abstract

Ultra-high temperature ceramics are desirable for applications in the hypersonic vehicle, rockets, re-entry spacecraft and defence sectors, but few materials can currently satisfy the associated high temperature ablation requirements. Here we design and fabricate a carbide (Zr0.8Ti0.2C0.74B0.26) coating by reactive melt infiltration and pack cementation onto a C/C composite. It displays superior ablation resistance at temperatures from 2,000-3,000?°C, compared to existing ultra-high temperature ceramics (for example, a rate of material loss over 12 times better than conventional zirconium carbide at 2,500?°C). The carbide is a substitutional solid solution of Zr-Ti containing carbon vacancies that are randomly occupied by boron atoms. The sealing ability of the ceramic's oxides, slow oxygen diffusion and a dense and gradient distribution of ceramic result in much slower loss of protective oxide layers formed during ablation than other ceramic systems, leading to the superior ablation resistance.

Citation Y. Zeng; D. Wang; X. Xiong; X. Zhang; P.J. Withers; W. Sun; M. Smith; M. Bai; P. Xiao.Ablation-resistant carbide Zr0.8Ti0.2C0.74B0.26 for oxidizing environments up to 3,000 degrees celsius.. Nat Commun. 2017;8:15836. doi:10.1038/ncomms15836

Related Elements

Boron

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Titanium

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Zirconium

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