Selective growth of SiC nanowires in interlaminar matrix for improving in-plane strengths of laminated Carbon/Carbon composites

β-SiC nanowires (SiCNWs) were selectively grown in the interlaminar matrix with a volume fraction of 0.65% by applying a pyrocarbon coating on carbon fibers, which realizes the proper reinforcement of C/C composites. The thickness of the pyrocarbon is optimized to 0.5 μm based on the analysis of in-situ fiber strengths with the fracture mirror method. The pyrocarbon coating increased the in-situ fiber strength by ～7% and prevent brittle fracture of the composites. Compared with C/C, the interlaminar shear and flexural strength of SiCNW-C/C (10.06 MPa and 162.44 MPa) increase by 158% and 57%. Incorporating SiCNWs changes the crystallite orientations and refines the crystallite size of pyrocarbon matrix. The functions of SiCNWs vary with their loading density. When SiCNWs are sufficient in the matrix, they help reinforcing and improving the critical failure stress of the matrix. When their density decreases to a certain degree, SiCNWs help changing the crystallite orientations of pyrocarbon and toughening the matrix.