Selection, processing, properties and applications of ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites, UHTCMCs – a review

ABSTRACT

Composites are, in general, a rapidly evolving and growing technical field with a very wide range of applications across the aerospace, defence, energy, medical and transport sectors as a result of their superior mechanical and physical properties. Ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites, UHTCMCs, are a new subfield within the wider grouping of CMCs that offer applications in rocket and hypersonic vehicle components, particularly nozzles, leading edges and engine components. The design and development of structural materials for use in oxidising and rapid heating environments at temperatures above 1600°C is therefore of both great scientific and engineering importance. UHTC materials are typically considered to be the carbides, nitrides, and borides of the transition metals, but the Group IV compounds (Zr, Hf & Ti) plus TaC are generally considered to be the main focus of research due to the superior melting temperatures and stable high-melting temperature oxide that forms in situ. This review presents the selection, processing, properties, applications, outlook and future directions of UHTCMCs.

KEYWORDS:

• Ultra high-temperature ceramics
• composites
• review
• matrix
• fibre
• chemical vapour infiltration
• impregnation
• oxidation
• ablation
• microstructure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by a number of different research grants, including: Materials systems for extreme environments (XMat), EPSRC research grant agreement number EP/K008749/1–2 (2013–18). Ultra-high temperature ceramic materials, MCM-ITP research grant agreement number 4700003222 (2014–16). Next generation ceramic composites for combustion harsh environments and space (C3Harme), EU Horizon 2020 research grant agreement number GA 685594 (2016–20). Effect of rare-earth doping elements on the mechanical and oxidation resistance performance of SiC coated C fibre/ZrC composites for high temperature applications (EREMOZ), EU Horizon 2020 research grant agreement number 748568 (2018–20). UK’s Engineering and Physical Science Research Council entitled ‘Materials Systems for Extreme Environments’, grant number EP/K008749/2 and ‘Multiscale tuning of interfaces and surfaces for energy applications’, grant number EP/P007821/1.