Micro/nano multiscale reinforcing strategies toward extreme high-temperature applications:Take carbon/carbon composites and their coatings as the examples

Carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites(C/Cs),are the most promising high-temperature materials and could be widely applied in aerospace and nucleation fields,owing to their superior performances.However,C/Cs are very susceptible to destructive oxidation and thus fail at elevated temperatures.Though matrix modification and coating technologies with Si-based and ultra-high temperature ceramics(UHTCs)are valid to enhance the oxidation/ablation resistance of C/Cs,it’s not sufficient to satisfy the increasing practical applications,due to the inherent brittleness of ceramics,mismatch issues between coatings and C/C substrates,and the fact that carbonaceous matrices are easily prone to high-temperature oxidation.To effectively solve the aforementioned problems,micro/nano multiscale reinforcing strategies have been developed for C/Cs and/or the coatings over the past two decades,to fabricate C/Cs with high strength and excellent high-temperature stability.This review is to systematically summarize the most recent major and important advancements in some micro/nano multiscale strategies,including nanoparticles,nanowires,carbon nanotubes/fibers,whiskers,graphene,ceramic fibers and hybrid micro/nano structures,for C/Cs and/or the coatings,to achieve high-temperature oxidation/ablation-resistant C/Cs.Finally,this review is concluded with an outlook of major unsolved problems,challenges to be met and future research advice for C/Cs with excellent comprehensive mechanical-thermal performance.It’s hoped that a better understanding of this review will be of high scientific and industrial interest,since it provides unusual and feasible new ideas to develop potential and practical C/Cs with improved high-temperature mechanical and oxidation/ablation-resistant properties.