Carbon Silicon Carbide Research Articles

Image-Based Peridynamic Modeling-Based Micro-CT for Failure Simulation of Composites

By utilizing computed tomography (CT) technology, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific details within the material. When combined with computational mechanics, this approach allows us to predict the structural response through numerical simulation, thereby avoiding the high experimental costs. In this study, the tensile cracking behavior of carbon–silicon carbide (C/SiC) composites is numerically simulated using the bond-based peridynamics model (BB-PD), which is based on geometric models derived from segmented images of three-dimensional (3D) CT data. To obtain results efficiently and accurately, we adopted a deep learning-based image recognition model to identify the kinds of material and then the pixel type that corresponds to the material point, which can be modeled by BB-PD for failure simulation. The numerical simulations of the composites indicate that the proposed image-based peridynamics (IB-PD) model can accurately reconstruct the actual composite microstructure. It can effectively simulate various fracture phenomena such as interfacial debonding, crack propagation affected by defects, and damage to the matrix.

A Comparative Study of Microwave Welding Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Silicon Carbide Nanowhiskers as Microwave Susceptors

Recently, microwave welding has arisen as an advanced joining method due to its versatility and rapid heating capabilities. Among others, microwave susceptors play a crucial role in microwave welding, as different classes of microwave susceptors have distinct microwave heating mechanisms. In this work, polypropylene (PP) was utilized as a thermoplastic substrate and two types of microwaves susceptors, namely multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and silicon carbide nanowhiskers (SiC NWs), were studied for microwave welding. The susceptor was first dispersed in acetone to form susceptor suspension. Next, the susceptor suspension was deposited onto the targeted area on substrate and paired with another bare PP substrate. The paired sample was then exposed to 800 W microwave radiation in a microwave oven. Afterward, the welded joint was evaluated using a tensile test and scanning electron microscopy to determine its joint strength and cross-section microstructure. The results showed that the joint strength increased as the heating duration increased. The welded joint formed using MWCNTs achieved a maximum strength of 2.26 MPa when 10 s was used, while the SiC NWs-formed welded joint achieved a maximum strength of 2.25 MPa at 15 s. This difference in duration in forming a complete welded joint can be attributed to the higher microwave heating rates and thermal conductivity of MWCNTs. However, increasing the heating duration to 20 s caused severe deformation at the welded joint and resulted in low joint strength. Overall, this study highlights the significance of understanding the microwave heating mechanism of different susceptors and provides essential insight into the selection of a microwave susceptor for microwave welding.

A realistic assessment of the prospect that silicon be replaced by other materials for IC application

Silicon is the most significant material in the semiconductor industry, and the whole semiconductor industry is established on silicon materials. Silicon accounts for about a third of the value of the material used to make the entire wafer. However, with the development of the semiconductor industry and integrated circuit chips, the requirements for semiconductor materials are also increasing. In some application scenarios, silicon is gradually unable to meet peoples higher requirements. For example, in high-frequency applications, the characteristics of silicon may be limited. At higher frequencies, the conductivity of silicon may not be ideal, leading to signal delay and performance loss. Therefore, finding alternative materials for silicon has become one of the current research topics for scientists, in order to solve some problems that silicon cannot solve under specific conditions. In this article, we mainly explore the characteristics and advantages of carbon nanotubes, gallium arsenide, and silicon carbide materials to analyze the feasibility of these materials replacing silicon in the field of integrated circuits.

Probabilistic physics-integrated neural differentiable modeling for isothermal chemical vapor infiltration process

Chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) is a widely adopted manufacturing technique used in producing carbon-carbon and carbon-silicon carbide composites. These materials are especially valued in the aerospace and automotive industries for their robust strength and lightweight characteristics. The densification process during CVI critically influences the final performance, quality, and consistency of these composite materials. Experimentally optimizing the CVI processes is challenging due to the long experimental time and large optimization space. To address these challenges, this work takes a modeling-centric approach. Due to the complexities and limited experimental data of the isothermal CVI densification process, we have developed a data-driven predictive model using the physics-integrated neural differentiable (PiNDiff) modeling framework. An uncertainty quantification feature has been embedded within the PiNDiff method, bolstering the model’s reliability and robustness. Through comprehensive numerical experiments involving both synthetic and real-world manufacturing data, the proposed method showcases its capability in modeling densification during the CVI process. This research highlights the potential of the PiNDiff framework as an instrumental tool for advancing our understanding, simulation, and optimization of the CVI manufacturing process, particularly when faced with sparse data and an incomplete description of the underlying physics.

High‐Temperature Thermal Conductivity of Fiber Hybrid Ceramic Matrix Composites with Different Modes

Thermal conductivity (TC) is one of the important thermal property evaluation parameters for high‐temperature‐resistant fiber‐reinforced composites. Herein, based on the flexible‐oriented three‐dimensional (3D) woven technology, fiber hybrid ceramic matrix composites (FH‐CMCs) with different hybrid modes are designed and fabricated by using carbon fiber and silicon carbide fiber. The representative volume element (RVE) models of fiber bundle and matrix with mesoscopic characteristics and the macroscopic RVE models with hybrid structure characteristics are established. The heat flux distribution and effective TCs of FH‐CMCs in the thickness and in‐plane directions at different temperatures are obtained by finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental tests. The results show that the FEA and experimental results of the TCs of different FH‐CMCs are in good agreement. In the range of 25–1000 °C, the effective TCs of FH‐CMC gradually decrease with the increase in temperature. The TCs in the thickness direction of different FH‐CMCs are directly proportional to the hybrid ratio, and the TCs in the in‐plane direction are inversely proportional to the hybrid ratio. The heat flux and temperature field distributions of the FH‐CMCs are mainly affected by the TCs of the components, fiber hybrid ratio, and orientation, and the distribution along different directions are obviously different. The research results are helpful to provide theoretical and experimental reference for the structural design and performance improvement of hybrid composites.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber Phenolic MatrixComposites containing Carbon Nanotubes and Silicon Carbide

A novel class of hybrid composites was prepared containing carbon fibers along with carbon nanotubes and silicon carbide particles in phenolic resin for improved mechanical performance. The loading of carbon fibers was ~60 wt% while carbon nanotubes and silicon carbide particles were reinforced in the fractions of 0.1 wt% and 5 wt%, respectively. Individually reinforced composites containing 0.1 wt% carbon nanotubes and 5 wt% silicon carbide particles were also manufactured for comparison with hybrid composites. Microstructural and mechanical property characterization was performed using electron microscopy and mechanical testing, respectively. Uniform dispersion of nanometer-scale carbon nanotubes and micrometer-scale silicon carbide particles was observed under microscopy. The pooled effect of carbon nanotubes and silicon carbide particles significantly increased the tensile, compressive, and flexural performance of composites while carbon nanotubes offered greater weight fraction value improvement than silicon carbide particles.

Microstructure and properties of aluminium matrix hybrid nanocomposite

ABSTRACT Aluminium metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) reinforced with particulate have been in the limelight recently due to their improved tribological and mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, impact resistance, wear resistance, etc. It is well known that carbon nanotube and silicon carbide nanomaterials are widely used as reinforcements in various types of metal or alloy matrix materials. However, hybrid metal matrix nanocomposites reinforced with more than one type nanomaterials are rarely reported in the literature. In this work, a novel aluminium matrix hybrid nanocomposite with carbon nanotube and nano SiC has been fabricated. Properties of hybrid nanocomposites are compared with nanocomposites reinforced with individual reinforcements. Vicker’s micro-hardness property of specimens was tested at 100 gmf load applied at 10 s dwell time. The hardness and compressive strength have increased 111% and 58%, respectively with the reinforcement of nanoparticles in the metal matrix. Dry wear property of specimens was carried out at 35, 40 and 45 N load with variable speeds viz. 500, 550 and 600 rpm. Wear resistance increases as the carbon reinforcement increases in the metal matrix. The wear mechanism of nanocomposite materials has been evaluated by using scanning electron microscopic analysis.

Mechanical and tribological properties of silicon carbide /carbon fiber/epoxy resin based composites

In this contribution, an epoxy resin based composites which synergistically modified by carbon fiber (MCF) and silicon carbide (SiC) particles were prepared. The chemical structure of MCF and SiC before and after surface treated using silane coupling agent were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The mechanical properties including tensile, flexural, and compression of the composites were investigated. Moreover, the friction and wear performances were studied on a ball-on-ring wear tester. The results indicated that the best tensile, compressive, and friction and wear properties of composites were obtained when SiC particles content is 3.0 wt.%. Compared to the pure epoxy resin, when the SiC particles content is 4.0 wt.%, the best flexural strength and modulus were obtained, which increased by 8.7% and 52.97%, respectively. Both the average coefficient of friction (COF) and the wear mass losses of the composites decreased significantly with the addition of the modified SiC particles. In addition, the main wear mechanism of pure EP is adhesive and fatigue wear, while the SiC/MCF/EP composites exhibit abrasive and fatigue wear.

MICROSTRUCTURAL AND CORROSION ANALYSIS OF CROWN PINION WITH VARIOUS COMPOSITIONS OF HIGH CARBON STEEL AND SILICON CARBIDE MATERIALS

The pinion and crown are key components in an automobile’s transmission system. The surface characteristics of high-carbon steel have a major effect on differential gear action. As a result, gear damages and increased downtime for repairs are experienced over time. To address this issue, manufacturers have started using alternative materials such as aluminium alloys and composites to improve the durability and efficiency of the transmission system. Engineers can now adjust the design of crown and pinion gears for best performance thanks to developments in computer-aided design and simulation tools. This has led to the development of more compact and lightweight transmission systems that offer better fuel efficiency and acceleration. However, these innovations come at a cost, as they require specialized manufacturing processes and materials that can be expensive. Nevertheless, the benefits of improved transmission systems are clear, as they can significantly enhance the driving experience while reducing maintenance costs over time. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect further improvements in material design that will further enhance crown pinion performance and reliability. To overcome these failures and increase the material’s life, high-carbon steel is preferred. In this study, high-carbon steel composites with various material proportions (100% to 0%, 99% to 1%, and 97.5% to 2.5% of high-carbon steel, and silicon carbide, respectively) are experimentally investigated and evaluated for better structural strength and surface behavior of the crown pinion. The crown pinion is thoroughly analyzed using salt spray corrosion testing and X-ray diffraction analysis. According to the results, the proportion of 97.5% high carbon steel with 2.5% silicon carbide has better surface properties than the other proportions, and it is also recommended to make the crown pinion for future uses.

Facile synthesis of hollow SiC/C nanospheres for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption

Hollow silicon carbide/carbon (SiC/C) nanospheres have found wide applications owing to their excellent dielectric properties, high surface area, thermal insulation, and low effective density at high temperatures. However, their hollow structure is typically obtained by removing the templates using strong acids, which can lead to massive waste and severe pollution. Herein, a three-layer nanospheres containing resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) and SiO2 (RF@SiO2@RF) were first prepared by a simple one-step method and used as precursors. Subsequently, monodispersed hollow SiC/C nanospheres (90 ± 5 nm in diameter) prepared in-situ through carbon thermal reduction. The hollow structure was formed by pyrolysis, eliminating the extra procedure to remove templates. The structure, size, and composition of the nanospheres were precisely controlled via synthesis temperatures (1400, 1450, 1500 °C) and using different raw material ratios. The obtained hollow SiC/C nanospheres demonstrated remarkable resistance to high temperature resistance. The specific surface area of the optimised hollow SiC/C nanospheres reached 301.9 m2 g−1. Their reflection loss (RL) value achieved −41.34 dB at 14.58 GHz, and the effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)was 4.0 GHz (12.77–16.78 GHz) with a thickness of 1.70 mm. The results of this study confirm that the proposed method allows for an in-situ synthesis of hollow SiC/C nanospheres for high temperature microwave absorption with low matching thickness.

Development and Characterization of Nano-Ink from Silicon Carbide/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles for Non-Enzymatic Paraoxon Residuals Detection.

The ongoing advancement in the synthesis of new nanomaterials has accelerated the rapid development of non-enzymatic pesticide sensors based on electrochemical platforms. This study aims to develop and characterize Nano-ink for applying organophosphorus pesticides using paraoxon residue detection. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes, silicon carbide, and silver nanoparticles were used to create Nano-ink using a green synthesis process in 1:1:0, 1:1:0.5, and 1:1:1 ratios, respectively. These composites were combined with chitosan of varying molecular weights, which served as a stabilizing glue to keep the Nano-ink employed in a functioning electrode stable. By using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and a field emission scanning electron microscope, researchers were able to examine the crystallinity, element composition, and surface morphology of Nano-ink. The performance of the proposed imprinted working electrode Nano-ink was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques. The Cyclic voltammogram of Ag NPs/chitosan (medium, 50 mg) illustrated high current responses and favorable conditions of the Nano-ink modified electrode. Under the optimized conditions, the reduction currents of paraoxon using the DPV techniques demonstrated a linear reaction ranging between 0.001 and 1.0 µg/mL (R2 = 0.9959) with a limit of detection of 0.0038 µg/mL and a limit of quantitation of 0.011 µg/mL. It was concluded that the fabricated Nano-ink showed good electrochemical activity for non-enzymatic paraoxon sensing.

Effects of Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube and Silicon Carbide Reinforcement on Wear Performance in Zinc-Aluminium Alloys

In this study, hybrid composite materials were produced by adding SiC (Silicon carbide) and MWCNT (Multi-walled carbon nanotube) to Zinc-Aluminium (ZA40) alloy, sintering under 700 MPa pressure and 500 °C using mechanical alloying and hot press technique. Hybrid samples were produced with 2% MWCNT constant and SiC ratio 1-2-3 and 4% by weight in the mixtures. The mechanical properties such as hardness and porosity of the produced hybrid composite materials were determined and their wear properties were investigated by traveling 300 m using 10 and 20N loads under 300 rpm constant speed in a ball-on-disc wear test setup. The obtained internal structure and wear surface images showed that the SiC and MWCNT reinforcement contributed significantly to the wear resistance of the hybrid composites, and in the SEM analyzes of the worn surfaces, there was a transition from abrasive wear to adhesive wear in the wear mechanism.

Quasistatic Compression Properties of Fiber Hybrid Ceramic Matrix Composites with Different Hybrid Ratios and Fiber Dispersions

Fiber hybrid composites can give full play to the performance advantages of different component fibers, and hybrid weaving is one of the effective methods to improve the properties of composite materials. Herein, based on the flexible‐oriented 3D woven technology, fiber hybrid ceramic matrix composites (FHCMCs) with different hybrid ratios and fiber dispersions are designed and fabricated, and their quasistatic compression properties, failure modes, and hybrid effects are studied. The results show that the reasonable hybrid of carbon (C) fiber and silicon carbide (SiC) fiber can make up for the shortcoming of single‐fiber composites and improve the compression properties of FH‐CMCs. The compressive failure modes of the FH‐CMCs are mainly the crushing failure in the C fiber layers and shear failure of the specimen. For the compressive failure deformation, the positive hybrid effect gradually becomes obvious with the increase of fiber dispersion, but the compressive strength shows a negative hybrid effect as a whole. The improved rule of mixture by introducing different parameters has a better prediction effect for the compressive strength of the FH‐CMCs. The research results provide experimental and theoretical reference for the high‐performance manufacturing of hybrid composites in the future.

Carbon ion self–sputtering attained by sublimation of hot graphite target and controlled by pulse injection of a neon–helium gas mixture

The operation of graphite targets with an increased temperature (HT – hot target) is studied for the case of gas injection magnetron sputtering (GIMS) of: 1) diamond–like carbon (DLC), and 2) carbon–silicon carbide (C–SiC) films. A purposely–thinned graphite target with a reduced thermal conductivity is applied for DLC deposition, extending its high temperature sputtering range up to 1636 °C. For the purpose of C–SiC synthesis four sockets with a silicon carbide powder are designed within graphite target. In this approach, the C–SiC target surface can be heated up to 1443 °C due to a greater energy input from impulse plasma, in the range 322–932 J. The HT sputtering is energy–controlled by a pulsed injection of a neon–helium gas mixture. High–energy Ne+ and He+ ions extend the length of pulsed GIMS discharge due to the self–sputtering effect observed during the deposition of DLC and C–SiC films. These conditions result in an almost 5–fold increase in the film growth rate (up to 185 nm/min) with respect to the operation with a cold target, which is due to the assisting vapour sublimation from custom–designed graphite–based targets. The temperature boosted HT GIMS discharge, proves to be an efficient tool for reaching relatively high (∼35 %) sp3–hybridized C content in both carbon–based materials. It also allows for tailoring the energy bandgap of DLC–based optical structure, in the range from 1.7 to 2.75 eV, due to the formation of the (CC) and (CO) bonds. Higher content of silicon oxide (SiO2-x) and silicon carbide (SiC) phases (15 – 23 %) in the case of C–SiC films results in hardness increase from 21.8 to 30.1 GPa.

Theoretical investigation of intermolecular interactions between CNT, SiCNT and SiCGeNT nanomaterials with vinyl chloride molecule: A DFT, NBO, NCI, and QTAIM study

Vinyl chloride (VCM) or chloroethylene is reactive in the gaseous state and its adsorption with pristine armchair (5,5) carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon carbide nanotube (SiCNT) has been studied. Germanium (Ge) element as an impurity has been introduced to silicon carbide structure (i.e. SiCGeNT) so as to increase the reactivity of the surface of SiCNT and thus increase the sensitivity of the adsorbent during the adsorption process. The B3LYP-D3(GD3BJ) hybrid functional has been used to optimize the isolated nanostructures and vinyl chloride as well as their clusters (gas/nanotube). In addition, energy single-point calculations were performed using ωB97XD, PBE0, B3LYP-D3(GD3BJ), and M06-2X functionals. The selected basis function is 6-311G(d), which is a good approximation to cover the integration space with respect to the constituent atoms of the molecules studied in this research. Wave function analysis including non-covalent interaction (NCI), natural bond orbital (NBO), and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), have also been done to reveal the intermolecular interactions nature. The results of these analyses, which are calculated using B3LYP-D3(GD3BJ)/6-311G(d) level of theory, are in agreement with each other and emphasize that among the mentioned nanotubes, silicon carbide nanotube doped with Ge element is more sensitive with respect to gas adsorption. Therefore, it will be a good option to design and build a nanosensor.

AGR-2 irradiated TRISO particle IPyC/SiC interface analysis using FIB-SEM tomography

The morphology in the interface region between the inner pyrolytic carbon layer (IPyC) and silicon carbide (SiC) layers in tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) particle fuel from the AGR-2 irradiation experiment were studied using focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy tomography. This work quantitatively described the interface and corresponding relevant metrics to understand how the microstructural features at the IPyC/SiC interface may influence actinide and fission product interactions with the SiC layer. Particles were selected with varied 110mAg retention rates, and their volumes were reconstructed and analyzed for distributions of pores, fission product/actinide features, SiC, and IPyC. It was found that porosity accommodates fission products in the interface and SiC layers. The largest fission product/actinide precipitates were found in the interface region. This was also where the largest number fraction of fission products/actinides was found, consistent with SEM showing fission product/actinide pileup along selected areas of the interface region.

2D Boron Carbide, Carbon Nitride, and Silicon Carbide: A Theoretical Prediction

Two-dimensional (2D) boron carbide, carbon nitride, and silicon carbide are proposed with the aid of the density functional theory (DFT) simulations. These 2D systems are actually designed by doping the corresponding heteroatoms in the 2D Me-graphene (also called C568) system. Their structural stabilities are verified by analyzing their phonon relations. The mechanical strength of the Me-graphene-like silicon carbide (Me-C8Si4C) is weakened to some extent compared with the pristine Me-graphene, while the mechanical property of the proposed boron carbide (Me-C8B4C) is much enhanced. Moreover, according to our calculations at the HSE06 level, the Me-C8B4C system is metallic, while the proposed carbon nitride (Me-C8N4C) and silicon carbide (Me-C8Si4C) are semiconductors. Especially, the Me-C8N4C system exhibits a moderate band gap of 1.869 eV at the HSE06 level, which implies its application potentials in the solar conversion and photocatalysis fields. Furthermore, the influences of the biaxial strains on these designed systems are also discussed.

Modeling the two-way coupling of stress, diffusion, and oxidation in heterogeneous CMC microstructures

A multiphysics methodology and a corresponding numerical scheme are proposed for modeling the complex interactions between oxygen diffusion, matrix cracking, oxidation, and the state of stress in carbon silicon carbide (C/SiC) ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) at the microstructural scale. The model is derived from the governing equations for force equilibrium and conservation of mass for oxygen and carbon, which are coupled through reaction terms, oxygen diffusivities and solubilities, and damage in the matrix. The Galerkin method of weighted residuals is used to derive the finite element method (FEM) equations, and the model is demonstrated on a representative stochastic heterogeneous microstructure to investigate the creep-like strain acceleration of stressed oxidation experiments and analyze the fundamental differences between the reaction-limited and diffusion-limited temperature regimes.

Latest research and developments of ceramic reinforced magnesium matrix composites—A comprehensive review

High-performance lightweight materials give rise to a demand for magnesium-based composites. Magnesium metal matrix composites have found extensive applications in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their remarkable mechanical properties. Limitations in dispersion, strength, and interface strength of magnesium-based composites are seen through the addition of some hybrid reinforcements and different fabrication techniques. In this regard, previous studies have demonstrated the ability of various reinforcements such as graphene, carbon nano tubes, silicon carbide, and titanium carbide to a magnesium matrix for the enhancement of its metallurgical properties. There are still several challenges in the development of magnesium metal matrix composites, such as non-homogeneous distribution, poor creep resistance at elevated temperatures, limited cold work ability, and low corrosion resistance. The challenges that need to be overcome and suggestion for improving the wear resistance and frictional properties of magnesium metal matrix composites were studied and discussed. This review evaluates the importance of different reinforcement percentages as well as the development of magnesium metal matrix composites. The different types of fabrication techniques that are well suited to overcome the challenges of poor dispersing, non-homogeneous distribution, interfacial problems, and poor wettability are discussed. Microstructure analysis, the agglomerating effect, and matrix bonding strength are also discussed. The challenges and future scope of research are discussed for the demonstration of the importance of more scientific studies in magnesium metal matrix composites.

Evaluation of CNTs and SiC Whiskers Effect on the Rheology and Mechanical Performance of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers

Despite geopolymers having emerged as a more sustainable alternative to Portland cement, their rheological properties still need to be thoroughly investigated, aiming at the material’s applicability. Additionally, studies that evaluated the fresh state of geopolymer composites with nanomaterials are scarce. Thus, two metakaolin-based geopolymer systems were reinforced with nanomaterials with a similar geometry: carbon nanotubes (CNT) and silicon carbide whiskers (SCW). The nanomaterials incorporation was assessed by rotational rheometry (conducted up to 110 min), isothermal calorimetry, compressive strength after 7 and 28 days, and the microstructure was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). CNT and SCW incorporation (0.20 wt.%) did not significantly affect the yield stress and viscosity of the R2-group (based on metakaolin type 2), while increasing the rheological parameters up to 56.0% for the R1-group (based on metakaolin type 1). Both additions modified the reaction kinetics. Increments of up to 40.7% were observed in the compressive strength of geopolymer pastes with the incorporation of a SCW content of 0.2 wt.%. XRD and FTIR results suggest similar structural modifications between precursors. Nevertheless, R2 showed substantial transformations while the R1 group exhibited anhydrous material that can react over time. Overall, incorporating CNT and SCW contributed to higher mechanical increments on systems with average mechanical strength (R1) compared to systems with higher potential mechanical performance (R2).