Ablation property of a C/C-Cu composite prepared by pressureless infiltration

Using Ti addition to improve the wettability between molten Cu and a C/C composite with a density of 1.60 g.cm(-3), a C/C-Cu composite was obtained by pressureless infiltration. The Cu filled the pores of the C/C composite, while elemental Ti, being distributed between the carbon and Cu, reacted with carbon to form TiC which covered the carbon. During the ablation process under an O(2)-C(2)H(2) flame, the ablation of the infiltrated Cu and TiC in the composite was prior to the mechanical denudation of the C/C composite. The composite showed a better ablation performance in terms of short-term anti-ablation than a widely used C/C composite. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.