Preparation and ablation resistance of ZrC nanowires-reinforced CVD-ZrC coating on sharp leading edge C/C composites

[Display omitted] •The SiCnws or ZrCnws reinforced ZrC coatings were prepared on SLE C/C composites.•Effect of two nanowires on ablation performance of ZrC coating on SLE is studied.•The ZrCnws provide a better reinforcement than SiCnws on coating when used on SLE.•The oxide layer of SiCnws reinforced coating gradually lose due to evaporation of SiO2.•The ZrO2 skeletons formed from ZrCnws support the oxide layer to resist scouring. To improve the ablation resistance of sharp leading edge (SLE) C/C composites, the ZrC nanowires reinforced ZrC coating (ZrC-ZrCnws) was prepared by two-step CVD method. The preparation of ZrC nanowires and the microstructure, bonding strength, as well as ablation resistance of the ZrC-ZrCnws coating were studied. After the severe ablation, the SLE sample with ZrC-ZrCnws coating presented an excellent ablation resistance with the mass and linear ablation rates of only 0.59 ± 0.06 mg/s and −0.92 ± 0.09 μm/s, respectively. Such good ablation resistance was attributed to the incorporation of ZrC nanowires, which can inhibit the cracking of coating and form ZrO2 rod-like structures after oxidation, supporting the oxide layer to resist flame scouring.