Short-term oxidation and residual compression properties of needle-punched carbon/carbon composites

Abstract

Needle-punched carbon/carbon (NP C/C) composite is widely used in rocket-engine nozzles and re-entry vehicles. Recyclable technology expedited the research on repeated oxidation and residual mechaincal properties of thermal-protection materials. In this study, the critical longitudinal compression strengths before and after oxidation are derived based on the Timoshenko beam theory. Three repetitions of short-term oxidation cycles and compression experiments are investigated. The average oxidation rate of this composite was 5∼6% in 10 min and kept linear increase. In-plane and out-of-plane compressive strengths of NP C/C composite diminish quasi-linearly due to oxidation at 1000°C, with their moduli decreasing in a periodically slow-sharp pattern. After three oxidation cycles, the levels of residual in-plane modulus and strength were 55.20% and 56.89%, respectively, while the resudual out-of-plane modulus and strength were 44.65% and 47.23%, respectively. The results showed that the material exhibited the pesudo-plastical behaviour after oxidation, cracks grew along the punched conical structures formed by the punching technology. In-plane and out-of-plane modulus were more sensitive than their strengths after first oxidation cycle.