THE REACTIVITY OF CARBON CARBON COMPOSITES

The reactivity of low temperature and high temperature pyrocarbon-fiber composites was determined and compared to the reactivity of their components. The specific surface areas, the active surface areas, the oxidation rates (gross specific and intrinsic rates) were measured. The corrosion figures were followed by SEM and in some cases by polarized light microscopy. The influence of interfacial decohesion on the reactivity of the composite was pointed out. Based on the intrinsic oxidation rate measurements, it was shown that the oxidation rates of the composites are not necessarily an additive property of the oxidation rates of their components. © 1990.