Open-celled silicon carbide foams with high porosity from boron-modified polycarbosilanes

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2019-12, Vol.39 (16), p.5114-5122
• Main Authors: Durif, Charlotte, Wynn, Mélanie, Balestrat, Maxime, Franchin, Giorgia, Kim, Young-Wook, Leriche, Anne, Miele, Philippe, Colombo, Paolo, Bernard, Samuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramic foams; Ceramic processing; Chemical Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Life Sciences; Material chemistry; Porous materials; Preceramic polymers; Precursors
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2019.08.012

[Display omitted] Open-Celled silicon carbide (SiC) foams were prepared from a mixture of a boron-modified polycarbosilane as a preceramic polymer and poly(methymetacrylate) (PMMA) microbeads as sacrificial agents. The process consists in the cross-linking of the liquid allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS, SiC precursor) with borane dimethylsulfide (BDMS, boron source) to form a solid boron-modified polycarbosilane with an adjusted cross-linking degree. The latter is mixed with PMMA microbeads (25 μm) in a 20:80 ratio and the mixture is warm-pressed at 120 °C forming consolidated green bodies to be pyrolyzed at 1000 °C under argon and to deliver open-celled SiC foams with an interconnected porosity of 73.4 vol%. These foams combine a low density with a compressive strength of 3.49 ± 0.56 MPa and a thermal and mechanical stability under argon up to 1300 °C. Ageing and microfiltration tests in the conditions of a primary loop of coolant in a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) showed that foams display a relatively high stability while retaining particles of 5 μm in diameter making these materials as appropriate candidates to work in separation techniques under harsh environments.