Tensile creep behavior of a SiC-fiber/SiC composite at elevated temperatures

The tensile creep behavior of a SiC-fiber-reinforced SiC composite has been investigated in argon at temperatures of 1000–1300°C. The apparent stress exponents for creep of the composite and the apparent activation energies for creep increase with decrease in stress. The threshold stress approach can be used to treat the data. Creep of the CVI–SiC matrix controls the creep of the composite. The relationship between creep rate and the time to rupture can be described by the Monkman–Grant equation which provides a method of life prediction. The Larson–Miller parameter can also be used for creep-life prediction of the composite when the appropriate constant is selected.