Influence of molybdenum disilicide filler on carbon-carbon composites

Carbon fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composites (C-C composites) have been prepared with addition of 0, 4, 12 and 20 wt.% of the inorganic filler: molybdenum (MoSi₂). These composites were unidirectionally manufactured using the prepreg method, and were submitted to graphitization (heat treated to 2300°C), throughout a one-step manufacturing process. In this work, the influence of MoSi₂ concentrations was ascertained by measuring the degree of graphitization, flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength of the composites. As a result, the presence of MoSi₂ in C-C composites effectively increased the degree of graphitization and the mechanical properties, resulting in the increase of bulk density (or decrease of open porosity) and decrease of interlayer spacing of the graphitized composites.