Laser Assisted Plasma Coating for Carbon Matrix Composites

Abstract

To improve the environmental resistance of C/C composite materials under high temperature conditions, we have designed a multi-functional layer coating system. This laser and plasma hybrid spraying method, which couples a high power CO₂ laser with low pressure plasma spraying equipment, was developed to synthesize a highly dense and highly adhesive coating layer. Using this hybrid method, we succeeded in synthesizing a multi-functional coating system of Mo/W/WC — MoSi₂ — ZrO₂ on monolithic carbon in experimentally. The synthesized multi-layer coatings were stable at 1700°C in inert atmosphere. In oxidative conditions, the coatings were confirmed to be stable up to 1000°C minimum and they also survived five heat cycle tests of 500 to 1500°C under vacuum.