Preparation of C/C composites by the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of propane pyrolysis

The preparation of C/C composites by the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of the pyrolysis carbon from propane was studied. Pyrolysis carbon was deposited at 30 torr and at temperatures between 1,173 and 1,233 K. The rate of carbon deposition increased slightly with time. The main gas products in the exit gas were methane, ethylene, and acetylene. The fraction of ethylene decreased and that of acetylene increased with the reaction temperature and the propane concentration. The produced propyl radicals reacted further at a high temperature and at a high propane concentration. These trends were similar to those of the reported data. Changes of the shapes of deposited carbon in the pores of preform were confirmed with SEM photos. The mathematical modeling of the system with the deposition rate constant from the reference estimated experimental data well.