Large scale fabrication of magnesium oxide fibers for high temperature thermal structure applications

Magnesium oxide (MgO) fibers were prepared through centrifugal spinning combined with a citrate precursor method. The strategy is quite efficient that the fibers could be obtained in large scale. The morphology, microstructure and crystal phase of the obtained MgO fibers were characterized by digital camera, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the fibers present continuous morphology with an average diameter of 8 µm. Cubic MgO grains with the size of ca. 50 nm were closely packed in the body of the fibers. MgO fiber-board and fiber-cylinder were fabricated through injection molding of fiber slurry and exhibited promised mechanical performance investigated by compressive strength measurement.