The ZrB₂-SiC_w ultrahigh temperature ceramics prepared by explosive compaction of hybrid explosive

SiC whisker toughness ZrB₂ matrix composite materials were prepared by explosive compaction of the hybrid ammonium nitrate and RDX in order to improve the toughness of these materials, and the energy and deformation, the density and microstructure of the ZrB₂-SiC_w UHTCs were studied. The results showed that ZrB₂-SiC_w composites with 95.25% of the theory density were prepared by explosive compaction. With the raise of RDX explosive mass in the hybrid explosive, the explosive press increased gradually, while the density first increased, but then decreased, and there was a maximal value. The change of the reduction of the outer diameter and the equivalent strain of the steel tube was similar to the density change. The deformation energy of the steel tube hardly changed, while the explosive energy and compact energy of the powder increased synchronously. SiC whiskers had been broken off under the action of the explosive shock wave. The microstructure of the ZrB₂ composites was the matrix particles beset by the whisker fragments.