Effect of Silicon Source on Biomorphic SiC Fibers Converted from Natural Fibers

Converting the natural fibers into biomorphic ceramics has been a novel and promising method to produce porous ceramics. This research explored a novel preparation method of biomorphic SiC fibers (SiCf), and its silicon source's effects on the production. The results suggest that the silicon in vapor, compared to melting silicon, can provide much slower reaction velocity which can enable the reaction more controllable, leading to stronger mechanical properties of the final product, the SiC fiber. Besides, different kinds of silicon sources have great difference in influence on the reaction rate, temperature, grain size and purity. Among the silicon sources, SiO is an ideal source of the porous SiC fiber.