Oxidation of ZrB2–SiC–ZrSi2 ceramics in oxygen

The oxidation of ZrB 2 –SiC and ZrB 2 –SiC–ZrSi 2 ceramics of different composition has been studied experimentally at 1500 °C in pure oxygen for up to 50 h. ZrB 2 –SiC–ZrSi 2 ceramics proved to be the most oxidation-resistant at ZrSi 2 contents of less then 4 wt%. These ceramics were more oxidation-resistant than ZrB 2 –SiC ceramics. An analytical model of growth kinetics for a multilayered scale based on an oxidation–diffusion balance was developed and tested.