Microstructure and mechanical properties of carbon fiber needled felt reinforced sol-derived YAG composite

The study concerning the second phase reinforced YAG matrix composites is few although YAG is well known as a desirable thermo structural ceramic. In this paper, low-cost 3D carbon fiber needled felt was used as reinforcement to improve the fracture toughness of YAG, and the carbon fiber needled felt reinforced YAG (C/YAG) composite was fabricated through vacuum impregnation-drying-heat treatment, using the Y2O3-Al2O3 sol with a high solid content as raw material. The microstructure, mechanical properties, thermal stability and oxidation resistance of C/YAG composite were carefully investigated. Due to the characteristics of reinforcement and the microstructure, the as-fabricated C/YAG composite showed non-catastrophic failure behavior and much higher fracture toughness compared with monolithic YAG ceramic. The flexural strength of C/YAG composite was well retained after annealed at 1700 °C and 1800 °C under inert atmosphere. Although the chemical inertness between carbon fiber and YAG was confirmed up to 1800 °C, the physical bonding of interface was enhanced during annealing, which led to the decrease of fracture work, especially at 1800 °C. The oxidation resistance of C/YAG composite was related to the cracks and pores since YAG is immune to oxidation. The changes of microstructure and flexural strength after oxidation at 1200 °C, 1400 °C and 1600 °C were characterized and analyzed. •Low-cost 3D carbon fiber needled felt reinforced YAG composite is fabricated.•The fracture toughness of composite is twice more than that of monolithic YAG.•The composite shows favorable thermal stability and oxidation resistance.