Microstructure and high temperature compressive mechanical behavior of biomophic silicon carbide-based ceramics

Abstract

Environment conscious ceramics (ecoceramics) are a new class of ceramic materials fabricated from natural wood (a renewable source). The affordable, net shape ceramics are fabricated by pyrolysis and molten silicon infiltration of wood preforms. The resulting materials have complex microstructure and multifunctional properties. The microstructure before and after high temperature plastic deformation was studied by scanning electron microscopy. These ceramics present regions of silicon and silicon carbide that follow the fibrous microstructure of the wood selected, resulting in a structure that resembles a continuos fiber composite. This structure results in very good mechanical properties as the evolutionary process has perfected it.