Processing and properties of glass-bonded silicon carbide membrane supports

Abstract

Porous SiC membrane supports were fabricated from SiC and glass frit at a temperature as low as 850°C in air by a simple pressing and heat-treatment process. The effects of the initial SiC particle size and frit content on the porosity, flexural strength, and air permeation of the membrane supports were investigated. During heat-treatment, the glass frit transformed to a viscous glass phase, which acted as a bonding material between SiC particles and as a protecting layer for severe oxidation of SiC particles. The porosity of the porous SiC membrane supports could be controlled within a range of 37–46% with the present set of processing conditions. The typical flexural strength, permeability, and specific air flow rate of the porous membrane supports fabricated using 23μm SiC particles with 15wt% glass frit were 75MPa, 4.2×10−13m2, and 32.4L/min/cm2, respectively.