Processing, microstructure, and properties of carbon nanotube and silicon carbide composites

This thesis describes the spark plasma sintering of silicon carbide and silicon carbide with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The work was completed to investigate the processing, microstructure, and properties of such materials. Various ceramic engineering techniques aided this investigation including powder processing, sintering, microscopy, spectroscopy, and mechanical testing. These steps were completed in order acquire knowledge about the influences of various parameters on the microstructure and properties of the materials. The resulting insight provided conclusions for how to synthesize a material that may allow carbon nanotubes to positively reinforce a silicon carbide matrix, particularly improving the fracture toughness. In this work, the spark plasma sintering of both silicon carbide and silicon carbide with multi-walled carbon nanotubes did not lead to fully density. The evidence of pores negatively influenced the material properties. The addition of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes required additional processing in attempt to disperse the reinforcement, but ultimately caused low density and did not improve density, strength, or fracture toughness. Alternative methods for dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a silicon carbide matrix must be developed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Materials Science & Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Carlson, Thomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kriven, Waltraud M.

• silicon carbide
• carbon nanotube
• composite
• ceramic
• processing
• microstructure, properties

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2013 Thomas Carlson

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44142

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/44142