Inhibition of catalytic oxidation of carbon/carbon composites by boron-doping

The inhibition effect of high temperature boron-doping on the catalytic oxidation of carbon/carbon composites was investigated. Boron-doping at 2500 °C was found to improve the oxidation resistance of catalyst-loaded composites. Evident inhibition mechanisms include the reduction of active site number by increasing the crystallite size and the site blockage by formed boron oxide. Boron-doping at less than 1.0 wt.% was found to almost completely suppress the catalytic effect of calcium acetate after a slight carbon conversion. This inhibition effect was much less significant in the case of potassium-catalyzed oxidation where only a slight inhibition effect was observed. This is believed to be the essential result of the unique properties of potassium catalyst. Due to its wetting ability and mobility, potassium catalyst could form and maintain good interfacial contact with any exposed carbon surface regions.