Strong SiC Porous Ceramic Obtained by Sintering of Reticulated Aligned SiC Nanowires

Abstract

High strength SiC porous ceramic with reticular pore structure is assembled by cross-lamination of layers comprised by aligned SiC nanowire (SiCNWs) struts printed through direct ink writing. SiCNWs networks exhibit a structure with highly interconnected porosity and an architecture formed by aligned SiCNWs struts. The effects of sintering temperature on the structures, phase evolutions and mechanical properties were studied. The high aspect ratio of SiCNWs was kept well at sintering temperature lower than 1900 ℃. The bulk density, porosity and median pore diameter of aligned SiCNWs porous ceramics sintered at 1850 ℃ were 1.49 g/cm3, 54.6% and ~1 μm, respectively. Due to the effect of orientation and high strength of SiC nanowire struts, compressive strength of (245.5±0.7) MPa is achieved.