F. M. Varela-Feria

A new generation of bio-derived ceramic materials for medical applications

A new generation of bio-derived ceramics can be developed as a base material for medical implants. Specific plant species are used as templates on which innovative transformation processes can modify the chemical composition maintaining the original biostructure. Building on the outstanding mechanical properties of the starting lignocellulosic templates, it is possible to develop lightweight and high-strength scaffolds for bone substitution. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the excellent biocompatibility of this new silicon carbide material (bioSiC) and how it gets colonized by the hosting bone tissue because of its unique interconnected hierarchic porosity, which opens the door to new biomedical applications.

Erosion and strength degradation of biomorphic SiC

Abstract Solid-particle-erosion studies were conducted on biomorphic SiC based on eucalyptus and pine, reaction-bonded (RB) SiC, and hot-pressed (HP) SiC. The erodents were angular SiC abrasives of average diameter 63, 143, or 390 μm and the impact velocity was 100 m s −1 . Impact occurred at normal incidence. Material loss in all targets occurred by brittle fracture. The biomorphic specimens eroded by formation of both lateral and radial cracks and their erosion rates were higher than both conventional SiCs. The RB SiC eroded as a classic brittle material, by formation and propagation of lateral cracks. The HP SiC, the hardest target, was the most erosion resistant. In erosion of the HP SiC, the abrasive particles, especially the largest ones, fragmented upon impact. The resulting dissipation of energy led to relatively low erosion rates. Flexural strength before and after erosion was measured for the biomorphic eucalyptus, RB SiC, and HP SiC. Erosion damage reduced the flexural strengths of all of the specimens. The relative strength reductions were lowest for the biomorphic eucalyptus and highest for the HP SiC. The hot-pressed SiC responded as predicted by accepted models of impact damage in brittle solids. The responses of the biomorphic and reaction-bonded SiC specimens were modeled as if they consisted of only SiC and porosity. This approximation agreed reasonably well with observed degradations of strength.

Extensive studies on biomorphic SiC ceramics properties for medical applications

Biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics are light, tough and high-strengt h materials with interesting biomedical applications. The fabrication method of the biomor phic SiC is based in the infiltration of molten-Si in carbon preforms with open porosity. The fina l product is a biostructure formed by a tangle of SiC fibers. This innovative process allows the fabrication of complex shapes and the tailoring of SiC ceramics with optimised properties and cont rollable microstructures that will match the biomechanical requirements of the natural host tiss ue. An interdisciplinary approach of the biomorphic SiC fabricated from beech, sapelly and eucalyptus is presented. Their mechanical properties, microstructure and chemical composition were evaluated. The biocompatible behaviour of these materials has been tested in vitro .

Thermal and electrical properties of a white-eucalyptus carbon preform for SiC/Si ecoceramics

The thermal conductivity κ and electrical resistivity ρ of a white-eucalyptus cellular carbon preform used to fabricate silicon-carbide-based (SiC/Si) biomorphic ceramics have been measured in the 5-to 300-K temperature interval. The carbon preform was obtained by pyrolysis (carbonization) of white-eucalyptus wood at 1000°C in an argon ambient. The κ(T) and ρ(T) relations were measured on samples cut along the tree growth direction. The experimental data obtained were processed.

Thermal conductivity of the SiC/Si biomorphic composite, a new cellular ecoceramic

The thermal conductivity κ and electrical resistivity ρ of a SiC/Si biomorphic composite were measured at temperatures T = 5–300 K. The composite is a cellular ecoceramic fabricated by infiltrating molten Si into the channels of a cellular carbon matrix prepared via pyrolysis of wood (white eucalyptus) in an argon ambient. The κ(T) and ρ(T) relations were measured on a sample cut along the direction of tree growth. The experimental results obtained are analyzed.

Electrical and thermoelectric properties of the SiC/Si biomorphic composite at high temperatures

The electrical resistivity ρ and the thermopower coefficient α of a SiC/Si biomorphic composite fabricated from a porous carbon matrix [prepared through pyrolysis of wood (white eucalyptus)] by infiltrating molten Si into the empty channels of the matrix were measured in the temperature ranges 100–950 and 100–750 K, respectively. Silicon reacts chemically with the carbon of the matrix to produce 3C-SiC, which, in combination with the excess Si unreacted with carbon, forms the SiC/Si biomorphic composite. The SiC/Si samples studied had a concentration of “excess” Si of ∼30 vol % and a porosity of ∼13–15 vol %. Measurements of ρ were carried out on samples cut either along (ρ∥) or across (ρ⊥) the tree growth direction, and α was measured on a sample cut along the tree growth direction.

Internal friction and Young’s modulus of a carbon matrix for biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics

The amplitude, temperature, and time dependences of the Young’s modulus and internal friction (ultrasonic attenuation) of a eucalyptus-based carbon biomatrix intended for preparing biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics were studied. Adsorption and desorption of molecules of the ambient medium (air) was shown to determine, to a considerable extent, the effective Young’s modulus and acoustic vibration decrement of a specimen. A doublet maximum in the temperature dependence of ultrasonic attenuation was observed at a temperature close to the sublimation temperature of solid CO2. The microplastic properties of the material were estimated from acoustic measurement data.

Compressive creep of silicon nitride with different secondary phase compositions

Abstract Compressive creep has been studied in several commercial and experimental grades of Si 3 N 4 , with similar microstructures but different grain boundary phase compositions. The experiments took place at 1400 and 1500 °C in static argon atmosphere. The creep rates at a given temperature showed more than one order of magnitude of grade to grade variability. However, all types of Si 3 N 4 appear to deform by the same mechanism. When analyzed by a classic power-law equation for the creep parameters, n ≈1 for all grades, while Q varied from 444 to 951 kJ mol −1 . A solution-reprecipitation creep mechanism is considered compatible with these results.

Marine Precursors-Based Biomorphic SiC Ceramics

Biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics is very promising as a natural base material for biomedical applications due to their excellent mechanical-biochemical properties and biocompatible behaviour. This innovative material is produced by molten-Si infiltration of carbon templates obtained by controlled pyrolysis of biological precursors. The final product is a light, tough and high-strength material with predictable microstructure. In this study the possibility to produce biomorphic silicon carbide ceramics using marine precursors is demonstrated. Due to the great biodiversity offered by the marine medium, a previous selection of algae (Laminaria ochroleuca Bachelot de la Pylaie, Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, Saccorhiza polyschides (Lightfoot) Batters and Cystoseira baccata (Gmelin) Silva) and marine plants (Zostera marina L. and Juncus maritimus L.) was carried out, taking into account its microstructure, porosity and interconnectivity of each species. The bioceramization process was evaluated in three phases: original material analysis, pyrolysis process and reactive melt Si-infiltration. For each marine precursor, a detailed study by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the natural material, the carbon preform and the final SiC biomorphic product is described. The viability to obtain biomorphic SiC ceramic material for all the selected marine precursors is discussed.

Anisotropy of the thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of the SiC/Si biomorphic composite based on a white-eucalyptus biocarbon template

The thermal conductivity κ and electrical resistivity ρ of a cellular ecoceramic, namely, the SiC/Si biomorphic composite, are measured in the temperature range 5–300 K. The SiC/Si biomorphic composite is fabricated using a cellular biocarbon template prepared from white eucalyptus wood by pyrolysis in an argon atmosphere with subsequent infiltration of molten silicon into empty through cellular channels of the template. The temperature dependences κ(T) and ρ(T) of the 3C-SiC/Si biomorphic composite at a silicon content of ∼30 vol % are measured for samples cut out parallel and perpendicular to the direction of tree growth. Data on the anisotropy of the thermal conductivity κ are presented. The behavior of the dependences κ(T) and ρ(T) of the SiC/Si biomorphic composite at different silicon contents is discussed in terms of the results obtained and data available in the literature.