Elaboration of C/C Composites Based on the Infiltration of a Hydrocarbon Precursor in Supercritical State into the Preform

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of a new process for the fabrication of a C/C composite for aeronautic and aerospace industries, in order to reduce the infiltration time of the carbon perform. The infiltration of a carbon fibrous preform by means of a hydrocarbon in the supercritical fluid state is done at high temperature in order to obtain a carbon matrix. The microstructure of the pyrocarbon coating is characterized by SEM and TEM. The experimental parameters (temperature, hydrocarbon pressure, residence time) are tuned in order to elaborate the carbon matrix. The best conditions lead to in-depth rapid densification from the top of the preform. After several experiments, the densification has been improved.