The effect of high temperature heat treatment on the tribological property of a carbon fiber/pyrolytic carbon/silicon carbide composite using polycarbosilane

The carbon fiber/pyrolytic carbon/silicon carbide (C-f/SiC) composite was prepared by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP), and the link between antifriction effect and microstructure evolution of the composite by increasing heat treatment temperature was studied by a reciprocating pin-on-disk configuration under dry sliding condition. The results indicate that the changing structure of fiber-matrix interface and SiC matrix of the composite by increasing heat treated temperature could influence the carbon content of friction surface, resulting an obvious difference in tribological property. The friction coefficient is reduced 24.3%, 26.8%, 33.9% at different test frequencies after 1800 degrees C heat treatment without aggravating wear. The finding paves us an effective way to modify the tribological property of C-f/SiC composite (PIP).