The Oxidation Behavior of ZrB<sub>2</sub>-SiC Ceramic Composites Fabricated by Plasma Spray Process

Our goal is to develop a structural ceramic for high-temperature applications in which silicon carbide-based materials (SiCs) are used as matrix composites. The potential of SiCs to deposit a mixture of SiC and zirconium diboride (ZrB<sub>2</sub>) plasma spray coating is analyzed. To dep...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eid M. Alosime, Mohammed S. Alsuhybani, Mohammed S. Almeataq
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/2/392
Description
Summary:Our goal is to develop a structural ceramic for high-temperature applications in which silicon carbide-based materials (SiCs) are used as matrix composites. The potential of SiCs to deposit a mixture of SiC and zirconium diboride (ZrB<sub>2</sub>) plasma spray coating is analyzed. To deposit thermal barrier layers containing up to 50 vol.% SiC, a high-pressure plasma spray (HPPS) process was used. Although the SiC cannot be deposited by thermal spray, a mixture of SiC and zirconium diboride (ZrB<sub>2</sub>) was deposited because these two compounds form a eutectic phase at a temperature below SiC decomposition. The preference was two different forms, 3 mm and 1 mm, of graphite substrates with different thickness values. A comparison of the morphology of SiC-ZrB<sub>2</sub> coatings before and after thermal treatment was performed by applying heat to the surface of a gas torch and traditional furnace between 800 °C and 1200 °C. The growth of the oxide scale was calculated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and density. The oxide scale consists of a SiO<sub>2</sub> layer with ZrO<sub>2 </sub>groups. The findings indicate a greater potential for the studied material in protecting against high-temperature oxidation and in a wide variety of aerospace applications.
ISSN:1996-1944