Improvement of nanoparticle filtration efficiency through synthesis of SiC whisker on graphite felt by the VS CVD mechanism

This study examines the synthesis of SiC whisker on graphite felt through the non-catalytic VS CVD (Vapor Solid Chemical Vaporized Deposition) mechanism in order to investigate its potential as a filter to replace the conventional DPF (Diesel Particulate Filer). Since the CVD process is conducted mostly in high temperature exceeding 1000 °C, many restrictions exist in selecting the substrate. Graphite felt is a filter form of non-woven fabric. The graphite felt was selected as a suitable substrate material for this study based on the VS CVD mechanism due to its relatively low cost, high heat resistance, and high flexibility. The appropriate SiC whisker structure of the nanoscale was grown on the graphite felt that exhibited the fore-mentioned characteristics. This enhanced the filtration performance of the bare graphite felt filter more than two times without compromising the gas permeability. Additionally, thermal oxidation resistance was elevated by at least 200 °C more than the bare graphite felt, thereby indicating the transfer of a part of the desirable chemical properties of the SiC.