Production of SiC Materials by Reactive Infiltration

Abstract

The use of oak sawdust as carbon precursor for SiC manufacture via reactive infiltration was studied. The effect of oak sawdust pressing parameters, temperature and pressure, on the final SiC's properties was studied. Final product's quality was evaluated through density measurement, and microstructure and pore size distribution variations were characterized with optical microscopy and mercury porosimetry. Pressed oak sawdust preforms were carbonized to obtain a carbon porous preform which was then infiltrated with melted silicon. Successful infiltration of preforms pressed at room temperatures were performed, to obtain a porous SiC. Hot pressed preforms were not satisfactory infiltrated due to a narrowing of their pores caused by SiC formation's expansiveness.