Silicon Carbide whiskers reinforced polymer-based adhesive for joining C/C composites

The strengthening and toughening effect of SiCw and CNTs for a heat-resistant polymer-based adhesive is respectively compared at first. SiCw and CNTs show similarly optimum strengthening performance when their content in the resin is 0.75 wt% and 0.3 wt%, respectively, while the toughening performance provided by 0.75 wt% SiCw is obviously better than that provided by 0.3 wt% CNTs. For 0.75 wt% SiCw-added adhesive, SiCw shows various strengthening and toughening effect after the adhesive is calcined at different temperatures, attributing to the variation of adhesive's composition and structure in the heating process. After calcination at 1300 degrees C, the strengthening and toughening rate of the adhesive during the room-temperature test is up to 22.6% and 36.9%, respectively. Also, for 1300 degrees C-calcined adhesive, SiCw still provides sound reinforcing effect during the high-temperature test when the temperature is not above 700 degrees C. However, SiCw almost loses its strengthening and toughening effect when the testing temperature is above 700 degrees C as newly-formed borosilicate glass melts in adhesive at the temperature above 700 degrees C. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.