Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The burner rig thermal fatigue properties of SiC continuous fiber/Si3N4 ceramic composites were examined under impinged jet fuel flame, a constant applied tensile stress and thermal cycling in the temperature range 500-1350 °C. The SCS-9 SiC fiber/Si3N4 composites failed within the flame impinged zone, whereas the SCS-6 fiber/Si3N4 composites failed outside the flame impinged zone due to the high thermal stresses resulting from high-temperature gradients. Analytical transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructure and chemistry of the fiber, matrix and fiber/matrix interface in the failed SCS-9 SiC fiber/Si3N4 composites. The partial degradation of columnar structure of the fiber was interpreted as the dominant mechanism of burner rig thermal fatigue failure of SCS-9 SiC fiber/Si3N4 composites.