Abstract

The fabrication process and properties of SiC particulate preforms with high volume fraction above 50% were investigated. The SiC particulate preforms were fabricated by vacuum-assisted extraction method after wet mixing of SiC particulates of 48 µm in diameter, SiO_2 as inorganic binder, cationic starch as organic binder and polyacrylamide as dispersant in distilled water. The SiC particulate preforms were consolidated by vacuum-assisted extraction, and were followed by drying and calcination. The drying processes were consisted with natural drying at 25°C for 36 hrs and forced drying at 100°C for 12 hrs in order to prevent the micro-cracking of SiC particulates preform. The compressive strengths of SiC particulate preforms were dependent on the inorganic binder content, calcination temperature and calcination time. The compressive strength of SiC preform increased from 0.47 MPa to 1.79 MPa with increasing the inorganic binder content from 1% to 4% due to the increase of SiO_2 flocculant between the interfaces of SiC particulates. The compressive strength of SiC preform increased from 0.90 MPa to 3.21 MPa with increasing the calcination temperatures from 800 to 1200°C under identical calcination time of 4hrs. The compressive strength of SiC preform increased from 0.92 to 1.95 MPa with increasing the calcination time from 2 hrs to f hrs at calcination temperature of 1100°C. The increase of compressive strength of SiC preform with increasing the calcination temperature and time is due to the formation of crystobalite SiO_2 phase at the interfaces of SiC particulates.