Study of the Thermal Behavior of Wedge-Shaped Samples of HfB2–45 vol % SiC Ultra-High-Temperature Composite in a High-Enthalpy Air Flow

Abstract

By spark plasma sintering, HfB₂–45 vol % SiC ultra-high-temperature ceramic was prepared, from which wedge-shaped samples were cut. The behavior of the samples was examined in a flow of dissociated air produced by an induction plasmatron, where the surface temperature of the leading edges of the samples reached ~2700°C. The dependence of the temperature distribution gradient on the distance from the leading edges of the samples was experimentally investigated. For the samples after the experiments, the elemental and phase compositions were determined, and features of the surface microstructure in various regions of the sample and on its polished surface were studied.