Prediction of ceramic foams permeability using Ergun's equation

Abstract

SiC-Al2O3 ceramic foams with 30 to 75 pores per linear inch (ppi) were used to access the application of pore size obtained by image anal. to est. the cellular materials permeability through Ergun's equation. Samples were sliced and the pore size distribution, cross-sectional porosity and pore d. were evaluated as a function of the slice thickness based on optical and X-ray computerized tomog. acquired images. The av. pore sizes were used to calc. permeability consts. (k1 and k2) of Ergun's equation, which were compared to those exptl. obtained under water flow. Results indicated that the optical diam. distribution was very sensitive to the no. of pore layers. Deviation between exptl. and calcd. values depended on the slice thickness. Nevertheless, the introduction of pore size obtained by image anal. into Ergun's equations seems to give fair results to assess the permeability of ceramic foams. [on SciFinder(R)]