Processing, sintering and oxidation behavior of SiC fibers reinforced ZrB2 composites

Borides and carbides of early transition metals are considered a class of promising materials for several applications, the most appealing ones being in the aerospace and energy sectors. The present work is mostly focused on toughening of UHTCs through incorporation of SiC chopped fibers. Mechanical properties of reinforced composites are compared to those of un-reinforced, whisker- and particle-reinforced materials and the effect of different kinds of sintering aids is studied. Addition of fibers allows toughness to be increased from 3-4 MPa m(1/2) (for un-reinforced materials) to 5.0-6.2 MPa m(1/2). The high temperature behavior is also investigated both in air furnace and in arc jet facility. Eventually, a paragraph is dedicated to potential of UHTCs as sunlight absorbers for future solar concentrating systems operating in the high temperature regime. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.