Research Progress of Ceramic Matrix Composites Prepared by Improved Reactive Melt Infiltration through Ceramization of Porous Carbon Matrix

Owing to the high strength/toughness and excellent anti-oxidation ability, continuous fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites have become the preferred candidates for high temperature structural materials in aerospace field.Reactive melt infiltration can achieve the large-scale, short-cycle and low-cost production of ceramic matrix composites, which has been widely considered to be one of the most promising technologies from a commercial perspective.However, the mechanical and anti-oxidation/ablation properties of obtained composites by conventional reactive melt infiltration are not satisfactory due to the existence of residual carbon and corroded fibers.In order to address the problems, relevant researchers constructed porous carbon matrix to replace conventional densified structure to promote its ceramic transformation and the consumption of reactive melt, thus achieving the improved performance of ceramic matrix composites.This paper reviewed the research progress about the preparation of SiC, SiC/SiC composites, C/SiC composites and ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites by porous carbon ceramization strategy.Besides, the superiority of the method was verified compared to conventional reactive melt infiltration.The development of porous carbon matrix was also summarized.Finally, in term of the requirements of basic theory and technology for advanced ceramic matrix composites, the prospect for the future development of improved reactive melt infiltration to prepared ceramic matrix composites was discussed.