Preparation of Ceramic Fiber Threads with Enhanced Abrasion Resistance Performance

Ceramic fiber thread is one of the key components in flexible external thermal insulation blankets, and it has been applied in various fields as a flexible ceramic fibrous material with excellent deformability and high-temperature resistance. However, ceramic fiber threads are often subjected to reciprocating friction motion at specific bending angles, making them highly susceptible to abrade and fracture. Enhancing the abrasion resistance performance of ceramic fiber threads under bending conditions is the future trend and remains a significant challenge. Hence, we design and construct a novel polyurethane-modified coating on the ceramic fiber threads to improve their abrasion resistance performance. The effects of the types and concentrations of modifiers on the microstructure, abrasion resistance property, and tensile property of ceramic fiber threads are systematically investigated. The ceramic fiber threads, after modification with hexamethylene diisocyanate waterborne polyurethane (HDI-WPU) with a concentration of 3%, exhibit excellent abrasion resistance properties. The number of friction cycles at fracture of the modified ceramic fiber thread is more than three times, and the tensile strength is more than one and a half times, that of the original ceramic fiber thread, demonstrating the great potential of the HDI-WPU modifier for enhancing the abrasion resistance performance of ceramic fiber threads.

Atomistic Construction of Silicon Nitride Ceramic Fiber Molecular Model and Investigation of Its Mechanical Properties Based on Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular simulations are currently receiving significant attention for their ability to offer a microscopic perspective that explains macroscopic phenomena. An essential aspect is the accurate characterization of molecular structural parameters and the development of realistic numerical models. This study investigates the surface morphology and elemental distribution of silicon nitride fibers through TEM and EDS, and SEM and EDS analyses. Utilizing a customized molecular dynamics approach, molecular models of amorphous and multi-interface silicon nitride fibers with complex structures were constructed. Tensile simulations were conducted to explore correlations between performance and molecular structural composition. The results demonstrate successful construction of molecular models with amorphous, amorphous-crystalline interface, and mixed crystalline structures. Mechanical property characterization reveal the following findings: (1) The nonuniform and irregular amorphous structure causes stress concentration and crack formation under applied stress. Increased density enhances material strength but leads to higher crack sensitivity. (2) Incorporating a crystalline reinforcement phase without interfacial crosslinking increases free volume and relative tensile strength, improving toughness and reducing crack susceptibility. (3) Crosslinked interfaces effectively enhance load transfer in transitional regions, strengthening the material's tensile strength, while increased density simultaneously reduces crack propagation.

Investigation of the Resistance to High-Speed Impact Loads of a Heterogeneous Materials Reinforced with Silicon Carbide Fibers and Powder

Pioneering studies on the additive manufacturing of a cermet heterogeneous material using SiC ceramic fiber were carried out. Unique studies of the damage staging (cratering) and the transition to the destruction of the formed material during high-speed impact created with the help of an electrodynamic mass accelerator have been carried out. It has been shown that the use of ceramic fiber in a metal matrix reduces the impact crater depth by 22% compared to material with ceramic particles. For the first time, the phase composition of the resulting composite was studied using synchrotron radiation. It was shown that, as a result of laser exposure, silicon carbide SiC is dissolved in the titanium matrix with the formation of secondary compounds of the TiC and Ti5Si3C types. It has been established that the use of SiC ceramic fibers leads to their better dissolution, in contrast to the use of SiC ceramic particles, with the formation of secondary phase compounds, and to an increase in mechanical characteristics.

Fiber Selection for Reinforced Additive Manufacturing

The purpose of this review is to survey, categorize, and compare the mechanical and thermal characteristics of fibers in order to assist designers with the selection of fibers for inclusion as reinforcing materials in the additive manufacturing process. The vast “family of fibers” is described with a Venn diagram to highlight natural, synthetic, organic, ceramic, and mineral categories. This review explores the history and practical uses of particular fiber types and explains fiber production methods in general terms. The focus is on short-cut fibers including staple fibers, chopped strands, and whiskers added to polymeric matrix resins to influence the bulk properties of the resulting printed materials. This review discusses common measurements for specific strength and tenacity in the textile and construction industries, including denier and tex, and discusses the proposed “yuri” measurement unit. Individual fibers are selected from subcategories and compared in terms of their mechanical and thermal properties, i.e., density, tensile strength, tensile stiffness, flexural rigidity, moisture regain, decomposition temperature, thermal expansion, and thermal conductivity. This review concludes with an example of the successful 3D printing of a large boat at the University of Maine and describes considerations for the selection of specific individual fibers used in the additive manufacturing process.

Microstructures of a SiC-ZrC Ceramic Fiber Derived from a Polymeric Precursor

Continuous ceramic fiber comprising silicon carbide-zirconium carbide (SiC-ZrC) binary phases was obtained through melt spinning, electron-beam curing and pyrolysis of a pre-ceramic precursor of polyzirconocenecarbosilanes (PZCS). After pyrolysis and heat treatment, ZrC particles with mean diameters of 15-20 nm were formed and homogeneously dispersed in a matrix of fine crystalline β-SiC with an average grain size of 6-10 nm. Concentration of Zr in the fiber varies from 14.88% to 17.45% by mass. Fibers consisting of near-stoichiometric ZrC and SiC with little free carbon can be obtained through pyrolysis decarbonization of the as-cured fiber in hydrogen from room temperature to 1000 °C, and subsequently heat treatment in argon up to 1600 °C for 1 h. High-temperature treatment of these amorphous inorganic fibers leads to crystallization of the binary phases of β-SiC and ZrC. The removal of free carbon under hydrogen results in more rapid growth of β-SiC and ZrC crystals, in which obvious aggregation of the dispersed ZrC particles among the continuous β-SiC matrix can be ascribed to a fast migration of Zr cation.

Effect of Ceramic and Nylon Fiber Content on Composite Silica Sol Slurry Properties and Bending Strength of Investment Casting Shell

In order to improve the performance of the investment casting shell, ceramic and nylon fiber was added to the silica sol slurry to study the effect of ceramic and nylon fiber on the liquidity of the silica sol slurry and the bending strength of the investment casting shell. Meanwhile, the fracture surface of shell sample was observed by SEM. The experiment results indicate that the movement viscosity of slurry increases with ceramic and nylon fiber content, increasing from 0 to 0.75 wt.%. The movement viscosity of ceramic fiber composite slurry is higher than nylon fiber composite slurry. The wet and high strength of shell firstly increases then decreases, with an increase of ceramic and nylon fiber content. When the ceramic and nylon fibers’ contents are 0.6 wt.%, the maximum wet strengths are 3.56 MPa and 3.84 Mpa respectively, increasing by approximately 38% and 43%. Moreover, the high strength of shell achieves its highest value, 5.08 Mpa, when the ceramic fiber content is 0.6 wt.%; however, when the nylon fiber content was more than 0.3%, the high strength of the nylon fiber reinforced shell was decreased sharply. Therefore, an addition of ceramic and nylon fiber to silica sol slurry distinctly influences the wet and high strength of investment casting shell.

Characteristics of Ceramic Fiber Modified Asphalt Mortar

Ceramic fiber, with a major composition of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, has advantages of stability at relatively high temperature, big specific surface area and resistance to external mechanical vibration. It has the potential contribution of improving the rutting resistance and temperature sensitivity of modified asphalt binder by proper modification design. In this research, ceramic fiber was introduced into both pen 60/80 and pen 80/100 asphalt binder by different weight ratios. An asphalt penetration test, softening point test, ductility test and dynamic viscoelastic behavior were conducted to characterize and predict the ceramic fiber modified asphalt mortar (CFAM). Research results indicated that the ceramic fiber has a great effect on reinforcement of asphalt, which makes the asphalt stiffer so that the asphalt can only undertake less strain under the same stress. The heat insulation effect of the ceramic fiber will improve the temperature stability. Complex modulus and phase angle results indicate that the ceramic fiber can significantly enhance the high temperature resistance of soft binder.