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In this work, the mechanisms leading to the pore closure in reactive melt infiltration (RMI) of carbon by pure silicon and a near eutectic Si-8 at-pct Zr alloy at 1500 and 1700 degrees C under vacuum were studied. Various geometrical configurations of microchannels were fabricated via laser ablation of glassy carbon plates. The micron size capillary channels allowed simplifying the complicated porosity distribution in the infiltration of powder or fibres based porous preform while keeping the physical dimensions in the range of where the physical phenomenon of pore closure takes place. The extent of infiltration was analysed by means of X-ray radiography. For RMI of pure Si, the widely accepted decrease in capillary radius by the formation of a solid state SiC layer by the reaction of liquid Si and C was observed, but did not lead to closure and it is hence not the infiltration limiting step in channels as small as 10 mu m. However, in the case of the Si-Zr alloy infiltration, another mechanism of pore closure was observed, namely the precipitation of zirconium silicides at the infiltration front, due to Zr enrichment in the alloy by the continuous consumption of Si for the formation of SiC.

This work presents the results of an experimental work on the mechanical behavior under bending of Si–SiC reticulated foams. Particularly it is here studied a transient regime after their linear elastic behavior and before their catastrophic failure. During this regime part of the mechanical work is dissipated by local struts failure. This behavior is interesting because, if well understood, could give important information on the prediction of reticulated ceramics’ life time. Besides load cell and deflection readings, acoustical emission and electrical resistance were also recorded during the tests. Data were further processed using Weibull statistics. Results evidence that the duration and effects of this regime strongly depend on ligaments’ microstructure and thus on the manufacturing technique. A correlation with the average acoustical events per sample and the Weibull modulus is also evidenced.