Elevated temperature static fatigue of a Nicalon fiber-reinforced SiC composite

Static fatigue tests of a Nicalon fiber-reinforced SiC matrix composite were conducted in four-point bending over a temperature range of 425 to 1,150 C in air at selected stress levels. The composite consisted of a Nicalon cloth with a 0.3 {mu}m graphite interfacial coating and a Forced Chemical Vapor Infiltration (FCVI) SiC matrix composite; samples were tested with or without a final protective SiC seal coat. The results indicated that the fatigue life of the Nicalon-SiC composite decreased with an increase in either applied stresses or test temperatures. However, the composite exhibited a fatigue limit of {approximately} 100 MPa at temperatures < 950 C which decreased to {approximately} 70 MPa at 1,150 C. Both electron microscopy and thermogravimetric studies suggested that the lifetime of the composites was dictated by the oxidation of graphite interfacial layer at temperatures {le} 700 C and by oxidation of graphite coating accompanied by formation of silicate interfacial layer via oxidation of the Nicalon fiber (and the SiC matrix) at temperatures {ge} 950 C. Use of a SiC seal coat effectively retarded the oxidation reactions and increased the lifetime by at least one order of magnitude at 425 C. On the other hand, the SiC seal coat made little (if any) difference in fatigue life at 950 C