Composites
Ceramic Foams

Current Projects

Project Title: Synthesis of Ceramic BaTiO₃-based Foams with Controlled Micro- and Mesostructure
Funding Agency: Fundable Area
Contract Number:

This project investigates the optimal preparation and characterization of BaTiO₃-based foams. A well-structured foam has large pores and high BaTiO₃ composition to maximize strength. In addition, the microstructure exhibits grain growth and triple points at the grain boundaries. The experiment is as follows: BaTiO₃ is foamed using a commerical, two-component, liquid polyurethane system. This system must be silicon free to reduce the risk of impurities in the later structures. The foam is sintered in an air-ventilated tube furnace and analyzed using X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy. There are three variables in this experiment: BaTiO₃ composition (30, 50, 60 vol%), polyurethane system manufacturer (Prochima, Cytec, Smooth-On, University of Rome) and sintering time (4, 8, 15 hours).

 

SEM Image of BaTiO₃ foam: foamed with the University of Rome polyurethane system and sintered for 8 hours at 1400^oC.

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