Some strength properties of graphite-zirconium carbide composite materials

1. Some factors influencing the strength of composite materials were examined. 2. A study was made of the strength properties of graphite-zirconium carbide and graphite-zirconium carbide-zirconium composite materials having varying structures and compositions. It was found that, at 2500‡C, the tensile strength of TsG-25 type composite material is 30% higher than that of dense VPP constructional graphite. 3. It was established that, by varying the degree of impregnation of the zirconium phase with carbon, it is possible substantially to change the physicomechanical properties of the resultant composite material. At 20–2000‡C, the tensile and bend strengths of materials containing residual zirconium are 1.5–3 times those of materials containing the carbide phase alone.