The fabrication of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced carbon-silicon carbide matrix (C_f/C-SiC) cross-ply composites is highly attractive from a practical viewpoint due to their homogeneous microstructures and isotropic mechanical properties. However, the properties of C_f/C-SiC composites depend significantly on their processing conditions and temperatures, especially the pyrolysis conditions and temperatures. In this study, cross-ply C_f/C-SiC composites were fabricated using different pyrolysis protocols with phenolic resin via a liquid silicon infiltration. The effects of the pyrolysis conditions on the microstructures of the composites and their mechanical properties as well as on crack formations were evaluated at room temperature. Pyrolysis was performed at 600 °C for 1 h in a nitrogen atmosphere at different heating rates. The flexural strength varied from a minimum of 47 ± 3 MPa to a maximum of 62 ± 6 MPa (~ 35% increase) depending on the pyrolysis conditions.

Keywords: Pyrolysis; Microstructure; C_f/C-SiC composites; Flexural strength