Rational Design of Cellular Silica Composites : Processing Characteristics, Structural Evolution and Properties

This book provides a comprehensive study on the design throughout process-structure-property correlation of the cellular silica constructs with an emphasis on the influence of the porous architecture on intended foam properties with following features: i) Provides a technology featuring 118 figures and 22 tables aiding towards the design and fabrication of cellular ceramics with manual solution available; ii) Slurry based processing route involving the use of hydrophobized fused silica with two different foam stabilization routes, in amalgamation with direct foaming method (to generate porous architecture) has been optimized; iii) As a major accomplishment,random dispersion of quartz fibers (aspect ratio >1000) up to 10 wt% has been achieved in the silica based composite foams, through a novel dispersion route, and (iv) Porous composite foams (100 x 100 x 25 mm) have been fabricated successfully through direct foaming route with negligible fiber entanglement and internal defects. It can be an ideal reference text for technologists involved in research and development of cellular ceramic architectures for high temperature thermal protection system applications.