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Fabrication and Characterization of Ceramic Foams Based on Silicon Carbide Matrix and Hollow Alumino‐Silicate Spheres
Author(s) -
Ozcivici Engin,
Singh Raman P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00612.x
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , silicon carbide , thermal conductivity , ceramic , porosity , fabrication , ceramic matrix composite , cenosphere , compressive strength , thermal expansion , polymer , pyrolysis , chemical engineering , fly ash , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering , medicine
Closed‐cell foams were fabricated by incorporating two different grades of hollow alumino‐silicate spheres (cenospheres) into a silicon carbide matrix. The matrix was formed by the pyrolysis of a preceramic polymer, and multiple polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) cycles were employed to minimize the open voids in the material. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the fabricated foams were characterized as functions of the number of reinfiltration cycles. The open‐ and closed‐void volume fractions were determined by measurements of bulk and skeletal densities. Mechanical properties, including strength and modulus, were evaluated using four‐point bend and compression tests. Finally, thermal properties of the material, including the coefficient of thermal expansion and the thermal conductivity, were determined using dilatometry and the laser‐flash technique, respectively. This processing technique results in closed‐cell syntactic foams with minimal porosity (∼2–4%), reasonable mechanical strength (∼30 MPa) and very low thermal conductivity (≤1 W/m·K). In this manner, this process can be used for the low‐cost and net‐shape fabrication of closed‐cell silicon carbide‐based syntactic foams for high‐temperature applications.