The Stability of BN Interfacial Coatings in CFCC Systems During Oxidation and Exposure to Moisture

Abstract The mechanical reliability of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) at elevated temperatures in oxidative environments is primarily dependent upon the chemical and structural stability of the fiber/matrix interface. Graphitic carbon coatings have traditionally been used to control the interfacial properties in CMCs, however, their use is limited in high temperature oxidative environments due to the loss of carbon and subsequent oxidation of the fiber and matrix. Thus, BN is being investigated as an alternative interfacial coating since it has comparable room temperature properties to carbon with improved oxidation resistance. The stability of BN interfaces in SiC/SiC composites is being investigated at elevated temperatures in either flowing oxygen or environments containing water vapor. The effect of several factors on BN stability, including crystallographic structure, extent of BN crystallization, and impurity content, are being evaluated. Nicalon™ fiber preforms were coated with ≈ 0.4 μm of BN by CVD using BCl3, NH3, and H2 at 1373 K. The coated preforms were densified using a forced-flow chemical vapor infiltration (FCVI) technique developed at ORNL.