Biotemplated synthesis of novel porous SiC

Amorphous silicon carbide with unique porous structures was synthesised from three biological templates (egg shell membrane, butterfly wing and sea urchin skeleton) using liquid phase infiltration with polycarbosilane at atmospheric pressure followed by heating to 1000 C under N-2. The structure and porosity of the preform was largely reproduced in the final material, although with egg shell membrane the cellular structure of the preform was compromised after infiltration and heating. The Sic yield of the final material was linearly correlated with the number of infiltration steps in the case of egg shell membrane and butterfly wing. Infiltration of the sea urchin shell was unsuccessful. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.