The pack-cementation process is the method which is formed SiC coating layer to improve weak oxidation properties of CFRCs (carbon fiber-reinforced carbons). This method develops the anti-oxidation coating layer having no dimensional changes and good wetting properties. In this study to improve the oxidative resistance of the prepared 4D CFRCs, the surface of CFRCs is coated by SiC using pack cementation method. The mechanical properties of SiC-coated 4D CFRCs are measured by the 3-point bending test, and their ablation properties are investigated by the arc torch plasma test. From the results, it is found that both mechanical and ablation properties of SiC-coated 4D CFRCs are much better than bare CFRCs.

Carbon fiber was reacted with gaseous silicon monoxide which is produced from pack-powder mixture at elevated temperature. As a result of the reaction, two kinds of SiC fiber were obtained. The first one was SiC fibers which were converted from carbon fiber. The fiber is constituted with polycrystal like fine grains or monolithic crystals that have a size from sub-micron to 10 μm. Their size depends on the temperature during the conversion reaction. The second one was ultra-fine SiC fibers that were found on the surface of the converted SiC fibers. The ultra-fine fibers have diameters from 0.08 to 0.2 μm and their aspect ratio were larger than 100. The chemical composit ion of the ultra-fine fibers was analyzed using an Auger electron spectroscopy. In result, the fibers consist of 51% silicon, 38% carbon and 11% oxygen by weight.