Nature-inspired (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites with enhanced ablation resistance through a Gobi Desert-like protective oxide layer

(Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC composites with micro-nano structure were designed inspired by the gravel–sand structure of the wind-resistant Gobi Desert to prevent air-plasma flame scouring and obtain excellent ablation resistance. Dense (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites were synthesized via pyrolysis of Ti<sub>0.2</sub>–Zr<sub>0.3</sub>–Hf<sub>0.5</sub>–vinylhydridopolycarbosilane (VHPCS) precursors with different contents of (Ti<sub>0.33</sub>Zr<sub>0.33</sub>Hf<sub>0.34</sub>)C micropowders and sintered at 2200 °C. During heat treatment, the elemental diffusion between micropowders and polymer-derived ceramics leads to the formation of a single-phase (Ti<sub>0.32</sub>Zr<sub>0.32</sub>Hf<sub>0.36</sub>)C solid solution with both micro- and nano-grains. Compared with the micro composites, micro-nano composites exhibit enhanced ablation resistance at approximately 2200 °C, with negative linear and mass ablation rates of −0.12 μm/s and −1.01 mg/s, respectively. This improvement results from the formation of a stable and dense protective oxide layer consisting of microscale (Ti,Zr,Hf)O<sub>2</sub> skeletons derived from (Ti<sub>0.32</sub>Zr<sub>0.32</sub>Hf<sub>0.36</sub>)C<sub>micro</sub>, uniformly dispersed (Ti,Zr,Hf)O<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles derived from (Ti<sub>0.32</sub>Zr<sub>0.32</sub>Hf<sub>0.36</sub>)C<sub>nano</sub>, and a SiO<sub>2</sub>/(Zr,Hf)TiO<sub>4</sub> phase matrix. The refractory (Ti,Zr,Hf)O<sub>2</sub> microskeletons and nanoparticles collectively protect the molten matrix from air-plasma flame scouring, similar to the wind-resistant mechanism of the Gobi Desert, in which multisized gravel stabilizes the mobile sands.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Advanced Ceramics
Published
2025-08-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26599/jac.2025.9221151
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
9.39

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article

Nature-inspired (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites with enhanced ablation resistance through a Gobi Desert-like protective oxide layer

3 citations
Journal of Advanced Ceramics
Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies
9.39
article

Nature-inspired (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites with enhanced ablation resistance through a Gobi Desert-like protective oxide layer

article en
3 citations

Abstract

(Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC composites with micro-nano structure were designed inspired by the gravel–sand structure of the wind-resistant Gobi Desert to prevent air-plasma flame scouring and obtain excellent ablation resistance. Dense (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites were synthesized via pyrolysis of Ti<sub>0.2</sub>–Zr<sub>0.3</sub>–Hf<sub>0.5</sub>–vinylhydridopolycarbosilane (VHPCS) precursors with different contents of (Ti<sub>0.33</sub>Zr<sub>0.33</sub>Hf<sub>0.34</sub>)C micropowders and sintered at 2200 °C. During heat treatment, the elemental diffusion between micropowders and polymer-derived ceramics leads to the formation of a single-phase (Ti<sub>0.32</sub>Zr<sub>0.32</sub>Hf<sub>0.36</sub>)C solid solution with both micro- and nano-grains. Compared with the micro composites, micro-nano composites exhibit enhanced ablation resistance at approximately 2200 °C, with negative linear and mass ablation rates of −0.12 μm/s and −1.01 mg/s, respectively. This improvement results from the formation of a stable and dense protective oxide layer consisting of microscale (Ti,Zr,Hf)O<sub>2</sub> skeletons derived from (Ti<sub>0.32</sub>Zr<sub>0.32</sub>Hf<sub>0.36</sub>)C<sub>micro</sub>, uniformly dispersed (Ti,Zr,Hf)O<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles derived from (Ti<sub>0.32</sub>Zr<sub>0.32</sub>Hf<sub>0.36</sub>)C<sub>nano</sub>, and a SiO<sub>2</sub>/(Zr,Hf)TiO<sub>4</sub> phase matrix. The refractory (Ti,Zr,Hf)O<sub>2</sub> microskeletons and nanoparticles collectively protect the molten matrix from air-plasma flame scouring, similar to the wind-resistant mechanism of the Gobi Desert, in which multisized gravel stabilizes the mobile sands.

Journal of Advanced CeramicsVol. 14(10)
Central South University (CN), Hunan University (CN), Powder Metallurgy Institute (BY)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Central South University, Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies
9.39
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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Nature-inspired (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites with enhanced ablation resistance through a Gobi Desert-like protective oxide layer · Journal of Advanced Ceramics (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS