Preparation and Microstructure of Laminated ZrB2-SiC Ceramics with Porous ZrB2 Interlayers

Optical properties of ZrB2 porous architectures

Porous ceramic materials are currently used as volumetric sunlight absorbers in concentrating solar power systems. As the efficiency of thermodynamic cycles rapidly increases with the operating temperature, the favorable characteristics of so-called ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) can be successfully exploited in novel solar absorbers. The present work reports, for the first time to the...

Microstructure and high-temperature strength of textured and non-textured ZrB2 ceramics

Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) ceramic possesses a unique combination of nice mechanical performance, high melting point (> 3000 °C) and great high-temperature oxidation resistance (up to 1600 °C), which makes it a promising material system for ever-increasing ultra-high temperature (UHT) applications. However, ZrB2 suffers from poor mechanical performance at UHTs, which could strongly limit its app...

The ZrO2 Formation in ZrB2/SiC Composite Irradiated by Laser

In order to clearly understand the details of ZrO₂ formation during ablation, high intensity continuous laser was chosen to irradiate ZrB₂/SiC. The results reveal that there are two different modes of ZrO₂ formation depending on whether liquid SiO₂ is present. When liquid SiO₂ is present, ZrO₂ generated by the oxidation of ZrB₂ is firstly dissolved into SiO₂. Then, ZrO₂ will precipitate again, ...

Thermochemical and Mechanical Stabilities of the Oxide Scale of ZrB2+SiC and Oxygen Transport Mecha

Refractory diboride with silicon carbide additive has a unique oxide scale microstructure with two condensed oxide phases (solid+liquid), and demonstrates oxidation resistance superior to either monolithic diboride or silicon carbide. We rationalize that this is because the silica-rich liquid phase can retreat outward to remove the high SiO gas volatility region, while still holding onto the zi...

XPS and AES studies of UHTC ZrB2-SiC-Si3N4 treated with solar energy