SiCBased Ceramics from NaturallyDerived Scaffolds K' T' Faber PI, Northwestern University, DMR024425

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SiC-Based Ceramics from Naturally-Derived
ScaffoldsK. T. Faber (PI), Northwestern
University, DMR-0244258

• Biomorphic silicon carbide is produced by the
  controlled pyrolysis of wood to provide a carbon
  scaffold for infiltration by liquid silicon. The
  silicon reacts with the carbon to form silicon
  carbide. The resulting microstructures are
  sophisticated porous structures with unique
  mechanical and thermal properties and high
  temperature capabilities (gt 1300ºC). For
  applications which involve extreme thermal
  excursions, such as heat exchangers or catalyst
  supports, thermal conductivity should be well
  characterized. Object-oriented finite element
  (OOF) analysis is used to assess the thermal flux
  across these complex solids. The microstructure,
  the finite element mesh, and the resulting heat
  flux profile are superimposed in the above
  figure. The large channels serve to impede heat
  flow. These are compared to experimental thermal
  conductivity measurements (below) which correlate
  well with the reduced in-plane (transverse)
  conductivity.
• This work is performed in conjunction with the
  University of Seville and the Polytechnic
  University of Madrid.

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SiC-Based Ceramics from Naturally-Derived
ScaffoldsThe World Materials NetworkK. T.
Faber (PI), Northwestern University, DMR-0244258

• A critical part the World Materials Network
  Program is the interchange of ideas among various
  collaborators. Although the internet provides an
  instantaneous and effective communication
  network, it cannot replace face-to-face learning.
  Student exchange of Northwestern students
  included Vikram Kaul to the University of Seville
  (shown here in a parting lunch in a Seville café)
  and Thomas Wilkes to the Polyechnic University of
  Madrid. Ranier Sepúlveda Ferrer and Joaquín
  Ramírez Rico from the University of Seville each
  visited Northwestern.
• In addition to the cultural exchange, these
  visits are key in transferring the processing
  technology for biomorphic silicon carbide from
  Seville to Northwestern and composite processing
  methods from Northwestern to Seville.