When compressed at a temperature of 2,000 degrees Celsius, unlike traditional ceramics that tend to fracture brittlely, 9HPEB exhibits plastic deformation. At this milestone, the new porous ceramic can withstand 49% deformation, equivalent to a compression strength of 690 Mpa, double that at the beginning.
Importantly, high temperatures do not have any significant impact on the volume or size of the material. 9HPEB only shrinks about 2.4% after incubation at 2,000 degrees.
Mr. Chu attributes the mechanical and thermal properties to the “multilayer” design of the ceramic: “ultrafine pores at the microscale, high-quality interfaces at the nanoscale, and lattice distortion at the atomic level”.
The microstructures of ceramic pores, both in terms of their size and distribution, are important for design. About 92% of the pores are ultra-fine, measuring just 0.8 to 1.2 micrometers – a parameter that scientists say gives them unmatched heat-insulating properties. At the nano level, ceramics have strong, defect-free connections that enhance mechanical strength. And at the atomic scale, lattice distortion due to its high-entropy design improves stiffness and reduces thermal conductivity.
The researchers concluded that these characteristics increase the material’s mechanical strength and thermal insulation, making it suitable for use in the harshest conditions.
Zhuang Lei, associate professor in the school of materials science and engineering and co-author, told China Science Daily that the material could have broad applications in industries such as aerospace, energy and chemical engineering.
(Theo SCMP)
