Processing and properties of glass-bonded silicon carbide membrane supports

Porous SiC membrane supports were fabricated from SiC and glass frit at a temperature as low as 850 °C in air by a simple pressing and heat-treatment process. The effects of the initial SiC particle size and frit content on the porosity, flexural strength, and air permeation of the membrane supports were investigated. During heat-treatment, the glass frit transformed to a viscous glass phase, which acted as a bonding material between SiC particles and as a protecting layer for severe oxidation of SiC particles. The porosity of the porous SiC membrane supports could be controlled within a range of 37-46% with the present set of processing conditions. The typical flexural strength, permeability, and specific air flow rate of the porous membrane supports fabricated using 23 μm SiC particles with 15 wt% glass frit were 75 MPa, 4.2 × 10−13 m2, and 32.4 L/min/cm2, respectively.