Ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites

Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites (UHTCMCs) are a new class of materials designed to merge the best features of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), like damage tolerance, with those of ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs), like ablation resistance. Applications that will benefit from these outperforming materials are found in aviation, defense, nuclear and space, in particular components that will have to bear high thermo-mechanical loads in highly corrosive environments above 2000°C and to resist several launches and re-entries undergoing near-zero erosion. The most recent manufacturing technologies for the production of UHTCMCs and thermo-mechanical and ablation properties are reviewed here.