| Summary: | We report the synthesis of SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coatings on carbon/carbon composites via pack cementation and heat treatment with nitrogen gas, the latter of which improves the coating wear resistance. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to analyse the microstructure, surface morphology, chemical states and elemental distribution, respectively, of SiC and SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coatings. In addition, we analyse the tribological behaviour of the SiC and SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coatings and the related microstructure and wear mechanisms. The results show that SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coatings are compact and contain the three phases: Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, SiC and C. Additionally, specimens with the SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coating have smaller, more stable friction coefficients and less weight loss than specimens with only the SiC coating. Adhesive wear and abrasive wear are the main wear mechanisms contributing to the higher friction coefficient of the SiC coating. Furthermore, with the SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coating, adhesive wear is the main wear mechanism causing a high friction coefficient at the initial stage of frictional wear. In the subsequent stages of frictional wear, the graphite in the SiC/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coating generates a thin lubricating film that decreases the friction coefficient.
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