Conversion of oak to cellular silicon carbide ceramic by gas-phase reaction with silicon monoxide

Oak has been converted to a porous biocarbon template by annealing in an inert atmosphere above 800 degreesC, Subsequent infiltration with gaseous SiO at 1550-1600 degreesC under flowing argon of atmospheric pressure finally resulted in the formation of a porous, cellular beta -SiC ceramic. The conversion retains the biomorphic cellular morphology of oak tissue. While pores in the cell walls with a diameter less than similar to1 mum vanished, two distinct pore channel maxima representing tracheidal cells and large vessels remained in the SiC ceramic. Depending on the cellular morphology of different kinds of wood, e,g,, strut thickness and pore size distribution, gas-phase conversion to single-phase beta -SiC can be used to manufacture cellular ceramics with a wide range of pore channel diameters.