SiC-based Ceramic Materials Incorporating GNPs Array: Preparation and Mechanical Characterization

doi:10.15541/jim20230259

Abstract

Abstract:

Silicon carbide ceramics are important engineering materials, but their application is limited by the inherent brittleness. Two-dimensional graphene, with its excellent properties, can be used as a second phase to improve the performance of silicon carbide ceramics. However, due to poor dispersion of graphene in the ceramic matrix, it is a challenge to fully exploit the modifying effect of graphene in composite materials. To address these challenges, SiC-based ceramic materials incorporating graphene nanosheets (GNPs) were synthesized using ceramic organic precursor polycarbosilane and industrial expandable graphite as starting materials. The precursor intercalation technique was employed to fabricate SiC/GNPs ceramic composites with GNPs volume fraction of 1%, 3%, and 5%. The GNPs were uniformly arranged in an array-like parallel fashion in the SiC ceramic matrix, showing excellent orientation. With the GNPs content increasing, the spacing between GNPs within the array decreased, indicating tunable microstructural topology. The addition of GNPs greatly enhanced the fracture toughness of SiC ceramics. When the GNPs content was 3%, the relative density of the samples reached 98.5%, the bending strength reached 445 MPa, and the fracture toughness (K_IC value) peaked at 5.67 MPa·m^1/2, surpassing pure SiC ceramics by 40%, which was primarily attributed to crack deflection and bridging induced by the GNPs. However, further increase in GNPs content led to a decrease in fracture toughness to 4.37 MPa·m^1/2. These SiC-based ceramic composites with a graphene array have potential application in design and development of novel “structure-function integration” SiC-based ceramic devices.

Key words: silicon carbide, graphene, microstructure, fracture toughness, ceramic toughening

CLC Number:

TQ174

SUN Chuan, HE Pengfei, HU Zhenfeng, WANG Rong, XING Yue, ZHANG Zhibin, LI Jinglong, WAN Chunlei, LIANG Xiubing. SiC-based Ceramic Materials Incorporating GNPs Array: Preparation and Mechanical Characterization[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(3): 267-273.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Facile route to synthesize the SiC/GNPs composite

Table 1 Basic physical properties of SiC/GNPs composites

No.	GNPs content/(%, in vol)	Relative density/%	GNPs average layer spacing/μm	K_IC/(MPa·m^1/2)	Bending strength/MPa
G0	0	99.2	-	4.05	395
G1	~1	99.0	7.5	5.18	410
G3	~3	98.5	5.2	5.67	445
G5	~5	97.4	3.4	4.37	370

Fig. 2 SEM image of the expanded graphite prepared after the microwave management

Fig. 3 SEM image of the SiC/GNPs mixed powder

Fig. 4 SEM and TEM images of the fractured surface of SiC/GNPs bulks (a) SEM image of sample G1; (b) SEM image of sample G3; (c) SEM image of sample G5; (d) TEM image of GNP in SiC matrix

Fig. 5 XRD patterns of SiC/GNPs mixed powder and bulks

Fig. 6 Raman spectra of G3 mixed powder and bulk

Fig. 7 Fracture properties of SiC/GNPs sample (a) Changing curves of fracture toughness and bending strength of SiC/GNPs with GNPs content; (b) SEM image of sample showing crack bridging; (c) SEM image of sample showing crack deflection

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