Effect of SiC on Microstructures and Properties of Clay Foam Ceramics

Abstract

A foam ceramic was prepared using clay, SiC, Fe2O3, feldspar and other raw materials as main starting material in a furnace at 1140~1170oC for 15~25min. Effects of silicon carbide’s content and powder size on the bulk density, moisture absorption rate and compressive strength were studied, and the fracture surface morphology was observed and analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The results show that SiC powder reacted with Fe2O3, Fe3O4, CO2, iron, SiO2 and form foam. The sintering behavior and properties of the foam ceramics are influenced by the content and particle size of SiC, when the content of SiC is as high as 8%, and the mass ratio of grain size is 1:1, the foam ceramics with the rate of moisture absorption is 0.05%, the bulk density is 0.32g/cm3, and compressive strength is than 2.2MPa.