Biomimetic Process for Producing SiC “Wood”

Mechanical properties and microstructure of biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics fabricated from wood precursors

“…The pyrolyzed preforms were infiltrated with silicon in a graphite element furnace under vacuum. Generally, the infiltration time and temperature depend on the 4 melting point of the infiltrants and dimensions and properties of the preforms. For silicon, infiltration at 1450°C for 30 minutes is adequate.…”

“…Eco-ceramic materials, fabricated via the pyrolysis and reactive infiltration with various liquid and gaseous reactants into natural wood-derived 3 preforms, have tailorable properties with numerous potential applications . The experimental studies conducted to date on the development of ceramics based on biologically derived structures, indicate that these materials behave like conventional manufactured ceramics [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In addition, these structures have been shown to be quite useful in producing porous or dense ceramics having various microstructures and compositions.…”

Porous ceramics prepared by mimicking silicified wood

“…Si(OEt) 4 was vacuum-infiltrated into a wood specimen and hydrolyzed to form silica gels in cell walls and then fired in an argon atomosphere, resulting in porous silicon carbide ceramics retaining the porous structure of the original wood [2,3]. When titanium isopropoxide (TiiP) was used instead of Si(OEt) 4 , firing in air resulted in porous titania ceramics [4,5].…”

“…Titania ceramic woods were prepared as described previously [2,3]. Alumina ceramic woods were prepared as follows.…”

“…In the latter method, a polymeric spongy material infiltrated with ceramic slurry is burned out leaving a porous ceramic. We have been trying to prepare porous ceramics from wood instead of sponge [2][3][4][5].…”