International Journal of Materials Engineering and Technology
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Abstract: This research entails
the use of a “green” structure that is already available, thus saving time,
energy and cost of manufacturing. Semi-porous silicon carbide (SiC) structures
are conceived from various wood species. Carbonized wood species measuring are
used as precursors for the production of SiC using two silicon sources: sol (Levasil)
and powder. Liquid silica sol
is infiltrated into pine, beech and maple in order to produce a porous SiC
structure mimicking that of wood. The liquid sol is vacuum infiltrated into the
pyrolyzed wood species, dried and reacted at under
a flow
of argon. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed SiC grains formed on the
interior of the tracheid walls and a high density of SiC whiskers are discovered
in certain tracheids of pine and vessels of beech and maple. In addition,
infiltration of carbonized pine wood by various stoichiometric amounts of liquid
silicon is achieved in order to determine the sufficient amount to obtain a
porous SiC structure. The carbonized pine wood is placed on top of the silicon
bed of powder and heated to for
1hr in a vacuum atmosphere.
Infiltration is based on capillary forces within the preform. To understand the
infiltration front of the liquid silicon an infiltrated pine sample is ground to
different depths. Optical microscope, SEM and EDS are used for microstructure
characterization and phase identification.
Keywords and phrases: silicon carbide, silica sol, infiltration, wood ceramics.
