Preparation of TaB2-SiC oxidation protective coating for carbon materials by liquid phase sintering

To control the microstructure and amounts of TaB₂ phase in the TaB₂-SiC coating, a novel liquid phase sintering method was developed on the basis of in-situ reaction method to prepare the TaB₂-SiC coating, which includes synthesis of TaB₂ powders and further preparation of TaB₂-SiC coating. With Ta₂O₅, B₂O₃ and C employed as raw materials, hexagonal TaB₂ powders were prepared by carbothermal reduction method at 1500?°C, whose mean particle size is 491?nm. The TaB₂, SiC, C powders, and the low melting point phases Si and silica sol were used to prepare the TaB₂-SiC coating by liquid phase sintering at 2373?K. The thickness of the coating is about 350?µm. Compared with the SiC coating, the weight loss of the samples modified by TaB₂ decreased from 17.7% to 11.8%, and the average weight loss rate of the fastest weightloss zone reduced from ?6?×?10^?3 mg?cm^?2 s^?1 to ?5?×?10^?3 mg?cm^?2 s^?1. During oxidation, the Ta-oxides would gradually dissolve in the silicate glass to form Ta-Si-O glass ceramics with dendritic structure, which significantly improved the toughness and stability of the glass layer. The Ta-Si-O glass ceramics possesses the ability of sealing and arresting the microcracks, which can enhance the oxidation protective ability of the coating.