Abstract
The biomorphic Silicon Carbide (BioSiC) ceramic with highly interconnected porous three-dimensional (3D) structure was fabricated by utilizing balsa wood cellulose nanofibers aerogel as the biotemplate and polycarbosilane (PCS) as the preceramic precursor. Evolution of morphology, composition, and pore properties from untreated wood to porous BioSiC was investigated systemically. The shrinkage and weight gain during pyrolysis was discussed. It was found that the structure of as-synthesized BioSiC was related to the microstructure of wood aerogel template and the concentration of PCS precursor. The proper microstructure of cellulose skeleton which was essential for the infiltration process could obtained by removing lignin and hemicellulose appropriately. The optimum PCS content was 40 wt. % for easy infiltration and proper SiC content. The results revealed that the dredged skeleton of cellulose was reproduced perfectly by PCS ceramization. The obtained BioSiC presented high porosity (61.03%) and low density (0.86 g/cm3) with good Darcy permeability (19.22 mD).
Highlights
As a low cost natural renewable resource, wood have evolved hierarchical porous structures optimized by nature
There was a slight shrinkage in volume due to the removal of chemical components and moisture of wood
The porous biomorphic silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic with high interconnectivity and permeability was fabricated from cellulose nanofibers aerogel of balsa wood
Summary
As a low cost natural renewable resource, wood have evolved hierarchical porous structures optimized by nature. BioSiC derived directly from nature wood template has been suffering from unsatisfied permeability and interconnectivity. The wood can sustain 3D porous skeleton of cellulose nanofibers after removal of lignin and hemicellulose and format interconnected aerogel structures [14,15]. It will be an effective way to achieve superior permeability and interconnectivity of BioSiC using cellulose nanofibers aerogel as biotemplate with the precursor-solution infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) method. We developed a facile yet effective method to fabricate BioSiC with highly interconnected porous structure. Balsa wood (Ochroma lagopus) cellulose nanofibers aerogel was fabricated by removal of lignin and hemicellulose in natural wood. The structure and properties of cellulose aerogel templated BioSiC were investigated systematically
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