Ablation behavior of C/C-ZrC-SiC composites under oxyacetylene, plasma, and plasma-solid particle environments: A comparative investigation

To explore the ablation behavior of C/C-ZrC-SiC composites in extreme environments, a comparative investigation was conducted under oxyacetylene, plasma, and plasma-solid particle erosion. Results showed the composites remained intact and exhibited good long-term oxyacetylene ablation resistance. This was attributed to the predominance of thermochemical ablation under such oxygen-enriched conditions, which facilitated the formation of a ZrO2-SiO2 multilayer barrier to oxygen. Mechanical erosion became dominant for plasma and plasma-solid particle environments characterized by low oxygen content and intense scouring, degrading the ablation performance due to the cracking and spalling of surface oxides under the erosion of air flow and particles. [Display omitted] •The ablation behavior of C/C-ZrC-SiC under different environments was investigated.•The linear ablation rate was −0.53 μm/s after oxyacetylene ablation for 1520s.•Mechanical erosion became dominant for plasma and plasma-solid particle environments.•Low oxygen content and intense scouring degraded the ablation performance.