Carbonization mechanism and ablation behavior of Zr/Hf-ZrC_1−x/HfC_1−x rods prepared by in-situ reaction method

Abstract

The Zr/Hf-ZrC_1−x/HfC_1−x rods were prepared by the carbon diffusion in situ reaction. The effects of different carbonization temperatures and carbon sources on the microstructures and the ablative behavior of the rods were investigated. The results show that due to the infinite solution of HfC and ZrC, a two-layer structure was formed in the Zr-Hf alloy rods. The outer layer was ZrC/HfC ceramic layer. The inner was composed of Zr/Hf-ZrC_1−x/HfC_1−x mixing layer decorated with some isolated ZrC_1−x/HfC_1−x grains. The thickness of the ceramic layer increased with the increase of carbonization temperature. When C/C-ZrC-SiC was used as the carbon source, the thickness of the ceramic layer was obviously higher than that of graphite used as a carbon source. After ablation, a molten ZrO₂-HfO₂ outer layer was formed on the rod surface, which acted as an oxide compensation to the substrate surface. The ZrC_xO_y/HfC_xO_y layer with a low oxygen diffusion coefficient was formed inside the rod. Meanwhile, ZrO₂, HfO₂, and their solid solution particles were sintered and densified, which reduced the oxygen permeability of the oxide layer and enhanced ablation resistance.

Keywords

carbon diffusion / ceramic layer / in situ reaction / ablation resistance

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