Preparation and Properties of C/C-(TiZrHfNbTa)C Composites via Inorganic Salt Precursor Method

Using low-cost transition-metal chlorides and furfuryl alcohol as raw materials, the (TiZrHfNbTa)C precursor was prepared, and a three-dimensional braided carbon fiber preform (C/C) coated with pyrolytic carbon (PyC) was used as the reinforcing material. A C/C-(TiZrHfNbTa)C composite was successfully fabricated through the precursor impregnation pyrolysis (PIP) process. Under extreme oxyacetylene ablation conditions (2311 °C/60 s), this composite material demonstrated outstanding ablation resistance, with a mass ablation rate as low as 0.67 mg/s and a linear ablation rate of only 20 μm/s. This excellent performance can be attributed to the dense (HfZr)6(TaNb)2O17oxide layer formed during ablation. This oxide layer not only has an excellent anti-erosion capability but also effectively acts as an oxygen diffusion barrier, thereby significantly suppressing further ablation and oxidation within the matrix. This study provides an innovative strategy for the development of low-cost ultra-high-temperature ceramic precursors and opens up a feasible path for the efficient preparation of C/C-(TiZrHfNbTa)C composites.