Abstract:
In this work, porous silicon carbide samples from rice husk charcoal were prepared by in situ carbothermal reduction method. Rice husk was fired at 700 °C to obtain rice husk charcoal. After that, rice husk charcoal was treated with 0.1 and 1 M hydrochloric acid by ball milling and magnetic stirrer to remove impurities before mixed with silicon metal powder and sintering additives. Mixed powder was pressed then pyrolized by various temperatures. The results showed that impurities such as calcium oxide, potassium oxide, phosphorus pentoxide and manganese oxide were decreased after treated with acid solution. After pyrolysis, silicon carbide was found as main phase. Silicon oxynitride was secondary phase in the sample which was pyrolized at temperature lower than 1500°C under nitrogen atmosphere. Cristobalite was found in the sample which was pyrolized under argon atmosphere. Aluminium magnesium oxide was found as the secondary phase in the sample with an addition of sintering additives. Morphology of the sample without sintering additive after pyrolized, silicon carbide whiskers and particles were found. Silicon carbide whisker was decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Small amount of silicon carbide whisker was found in the sample which sintering additives were added. Connection of particles in the sample was increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Weight loss, shrinkage and porosity of the dry pressed samples were increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature and then stable when reach 1700°C. Shrinkage of the samples with sintering additive that were shaped with dry pressing and cold isostatic pressing was slightly increased at initial stage, then increased dramatically when pyrolized at the temperature higher than 1700°C. Radial crushing strength of the sample was increased after pyrolysis at 1500°C, then decreased at 1600°C, and increased again with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Specific surface area of the sample with sintering additives was lower than that of sample without sintering additives because the increasing of particle connection.