In order to improve the high temperature oxidation resistance and lifespan of mat type porous carbon insulation, SiC was coated on carbon insulation by solution coating using polycarbosilane solution, curing in an oxidizing atmosphere at 200 oC, and pyrolysis at temperatures up to 1200 oC. The SiOC phase formed during the pyrolysis process was converted into SiC crystals as the heat treatment temperature increased, and a SiC coating with a thickness of 10-15 nm was formed at 1600 oC. The SiC coated specimen showed a weight reduction of 8.6 % when it was kept in an atmospheric environment of 700 oC for 1 hour. On the other hand, the thermal conductivity was 0.17W/mK, and no difference between states before and after coating was observed at all.

Diamond/SiC composites are appropriate candidate materials for heat conduction as well as high temperature abrasive materials because they do not form liquid phase at high temperature. Diamond/SiC composite consists of diamond particles embedded in a SiC binding matrix. SiC is a hard material with strong covalent bonds having similar structure and thermal expansion with diamond. Interfacial reaction plays an important role in diamond/SiC composites. Diamond/SiC composites were fabricated by high temperature and high pressure (HPHT) sintering with different diamond content, single diamond particle size and bi-modal diamond particle size, and also the effects of composition of diamond and silicon on microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal properties of diamond/SiC composite were investigated. The critical factors influencing the dynamics of reaction between diamond and silicon, such as graphitization process and phase composition, were characterized. Key factor to enhance mechanical and thermal properties of diamond/SiC composites is to keep strong interfacial bonding at diamond/SiC composites and homogeneous dispersion of diamond particles in SiC matrix.