@article{Lu2025, 
author = {Li Lu and Shuibin Wang and Tianxing Jiang and Pengcheng Du and Jinrun Hu and Tianci Zhou and Yichen Wang and Yi Zeng and Yalei Wang and Xiang Xiong and Qingbo Wen},
title = {Nature-inspired (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites with enhanced ablation resistance through a Gobi Desert-like protective oxide layer},
year = {2025},
journal = {Journal of Advanced Ceramics},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {9221151},
keywords = {polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs), ablation resistance, micro-nano composites, ultrahigh-temperature ceramics (UHTCs), nature-inspired},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JAC.2025.9221151},
doi = {10.26599/JAC.2025.9221151},
abstract = {(Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC composites with micro-nano structure were designed inspired by the gravel–sand structure of the wind-resistant Gobi Desert to prevent air-plasma flame scouring and obtain excellent ablation resistance. Dense (Ti,Zr,Hf)C/SiC micro-nano composites were synthesized via pyrolysis of Ti0.2–Zr0.3–Hf0.5–vinylhydridopolycarbosilane (VHPCS) precursors with different contents of (Ti0.33Zr0.33Hf0.34)C micropowders and sintered at 2200 °C. During heat treatment, the elemental diffusion between micropowders and polymer-derived ceramics leads to the formation of a single-phase (Ti0.32Zr0.32Hf0.36)C solid solution with both micro- and nano-grains. Compared with the micro composites, micro-nano composites exhibit enhanced ablation resistance at approximately 2200 °C, with negative linear and mass ablation rates of −0.12 μm/s and −1.01 mg/s, respectively. This improvement results from the formation of a stable and dense protective oxide layer consisting of microscale (Ti,Zr,Hf)O2 skeletons derived from (Ti0.32Zr0.32Hf0.36)Cmicro, uniformly dispersed (Ti,Zr,Hf)O2 nanoparticles derived from (Ti0.32Zr0.32Hf0.36)Cnano, and a SiO2/(Zr,Hf)TiO4 phase matrix. The refractory (Ti,Zr,Hf)O2 microskeletons and nanoparticles collectively protect the molten matrix from air-plasma flame scouring, similar to the wind-resistant mechanism of the Gobi Desert, in which multisized gravel stabilizes the mobile sands.}
}