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Crossover of thermal conductivity in SiC-reinforced ZrB2–HfB2 composites at elevated temperatures

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Abstract

Ultra-high temperature ceramics, especially di-borides, are regarded as potential candidates for thermal protection system in hypersonic vehicles by virtue of their high thermal conductivity. However, studies on thermal conductivity behaviour of ultra-high temperature ceramic di-borides exhibit scattered data at high temperatures. Herein, we report a systematic study of a range of di-boride compositions aiming at multiple aspects including the effect of temperature on thermal conductivity of monolithic di-borides (ZrB2 and HfB2), effect of SiC and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) addition on ZrB2 and HfB2 with increasing temperature till 1200 °C, and effect on thermal conductivity with systematic incorporation of ZrB2 and HfB2 into each another. Highest experimental thermal conductivity (63–83 W m−1 K−1) observed in 20 vol% SiC reinforced ZrB2 composite (in the temperature range of 50–1200 °C) witnessed crossover (and drop) than that of monolithic sample (above 900 °C) due to increased phonon–phonon scattering in SiC with the rise in temperature. Concurrently, agglomerated CNT reinforcement further decreased thermal conductivity due to increased inhomogeneity in solid solutioning and enhanced phonon scattering.

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Acknowledgements

Space Technology Cell-IIT Kanpur of Indian Space Research Organisation is acknowledged for funding this project. Rubia Hassan at IIT Kanpur acknowledges MHRD, Government of India for funding through Prime Ministers Research Fellowship. Kantesh Balani acknowledges Yadupati Singhania Memorial Chair from J.K. Cotton Limited. Advanced Centre for Materials Science (ACMS) at IIT Kanpur is acknowledged for extending XRD, SEM and Indentation facilities. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is acknowledged for extending thermal conductivity measurement facility.

Funding

This work was supported by Space Technology Cell-IIT Kanpur of Indian Space Research Organisation and MHRD Govt. of India through Prime Minister Research Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 208016, India

    Rubia Hassan, Shobit Omar & Kantesh Balani

  2. Indian Space Research Organization, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum, 695022, India

    Vincent Xavier & Venkateswaran Thiruvenkatam

  3. Advanced Centre for Material Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 208016, India

    Kantesh Balani

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  1. Rubia Hassan
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  2. Vincent Xavier
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  3. Venkateswaran Thiruvenkatam
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  4. Shobit Omar
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  5. Kantesh Balani
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Contributions

RH designed the experiments, analysed the data and wrote the paper. Vincent Xavier performed the thermal conductivity tests. TV, KB conceived the idea. TV, KB and SO edited the paper. KB guided in organising the paper and procured the funding.

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Correspondence to Kantesh Balani.

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Hassan, R., Xavier, V., Thiruvenkatam, V. et al. Crossover of thermal conductivity in SiC-reinforced ZrB2–HfB2 composites at elevated temperatures. J Mater Sci 58, 1505–1522 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-022-08132-5

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