The Effect of Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) on the mechanical properties of Liquid silicon infiltration (LSI)-derived C/SiC

초록

, Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were integrated into carbon/silicon carbide (C/SiC) formed by LSI to solve the issues presented earlier. The effect of CNF on the pyrolysis of phenolic resin (PH) and carbon/phenol (C/PH), Si infiltration into pyrolyzed carbon/phenol (Pyro C/PH), and the mechanical behaviors of C/SiC was investigated. CNF-PH possessed a higher carbon yield of 56% compared to PH after pyrolysis. Pyro C/CNF-PH contained an 18% higher amount of carbon yield compared to Pyro C/PH, and C/CNF-SiC possessed an 11% lower amount of residual Si compared to C/ SiC. As a result, the flexural modulus, strength, and strain energy density of C/CNF-SiC increased by 7%, 34%, and 82%, respectively due to the intact fibers and weakened interfacial strength. The observation of the microstructural and physiochemical evolution in C/CNF-SiC casts the possibility of further enhancement in the mechanical properties by optimization of the diameter, length, and volume fraction of CNF.