Effect of pyrolyzation temperature on wood-derived carbon and silicon carbide

The structure of carbon and silicon carbide produced through the pyrolyzation of wood and the subsequent melt-infiltration with silicon was studied as a function of initial carbon pyrolyzation temperature. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize material derived from initial carbon pyrolyzation temperatures in the range of 300–2400 °°C. It was determined that, although structural differences abound in carbon pyrolyzed at different temperatures, the resulting silicon carbide is independent of the initial temperature of carbon pyrolyzation.