Comparison of the chemical erosion of carbon/carbon composites and pyrolytic graphite

The production of hydrocarbons due to 300 and 1000 eV H+ bombardment of an AEROLOR carbon/carbon composite sample is compared with that of pyrolytic graphite. Within the experimental uncertainty, no difference was observed in either the total erosion yield or the distribution of hydrocarbons, as a function of temperature, between two orientations of the carbon/carbon composite and the pyrolytic graphite sample. For pyrolytic graphite, the ion energy dependence of the hydrocarbon formation rate was also studied. (orig.)