Repair of SiC coating on carbon/carbon composites by laser cladding technique

A slurry-based laser cladding technique was used to repair the SiC coated carbon/carbon composites. The oxidation resistance of repaired samples at 1773 K for 10 h was investigated. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscope; its interface characteristics were studied with scratch, thermal shock and internal friction tests. The results show that there is no obvious interface between the newly-formed coating and the original coating, and the newly-formed coating has a much smoother surface. With optimizing parameters, the new coating of 180 μm thickness possesses refined grains, flat surface, dense microstructure and good thermal stability. The number of internal defects in the samples repaired by laser cladding drops, compared with the damaged/undamaged samples. The weight loss of repaired samples decreases by 64.8% in comparison with the damaged ones, and it is almost the same with the undamaged samples according to a test of anti-oxidation behaviors. This is attributed to the enhanced oxidation resistance of dense newly-formed coating, which makes carbon/carbon composites well protected.