Papers by Author: Élson de Campos

Abstract: Silicon carbide (SiC) has been employed in many different fields such as ballistic armor, thermal coating, high performance mirror substrate, semiconductors devices, among other things. Plasma application over the silicon carbide ceramics is relatively recent and it is able to promote relevant superficial modifications. Plasma expander was used in this work which was supplied by nitrogen and switched by a capacitor bank. Nitrogen plasma was applied over ceramic samples for 20 minutes, in a total medium of 1440 plasma pulses. SiC ceramics were produced by uniaxial pressing method (40 MPa) associated to isostatic pressing (300 MPa) and sintered at 1950°C under argon gas atmosphere. Silicon carbide (β-SiC - BF-12) supplied by HC-Starck and sintering additive (7.6% YAG - Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) were used in order to obtain the ceramics. Before and after the plasma application, the samples were characterized by SEM, AFM, contact angle and surface energy measurement.

Abstract: Porous ceramics can be produced by adding starch (corn, potato) and protein (animal or vegetable) to raw material as pore forming element. In this study, titanium dioxide ceramics were formed by vegetable protein consolidation. Soybean was chosen as the binding agent and pore forming. The samples, which were produced in cylindrical shape, had the following processing: material mixture, gelling, drying, pre-sintering and sintering. Heated platinum microscopy were performed by using suspensions with different compositions in order to verify protein gelling capacity and better know the temperature in which this process occurs. The samples were characterized by apparent porosity and roughness measurement. Besides, imaging by light microscopy was also performed in order to determine the sample morphology and porosity.

Abstract: The improvement of ceramic synthesis and processing methodology based on digital image processing and analysis of ceramic samples is in its initial stage. The main reason is that the models are based on poorly obtained data from sample’s digital image processing. The lack of a solid statistical analysis and digital-imaging setup standardization make the method less useful that it should be if set in a sound basis. Therefore the importance of setting a new methodology in digital image processing for data acquisition on ceramic morphology analysis is essential for setting new models for customized ceramic synthesis and processing. The present paper shows results based on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) from Al2O3 ceramics obtained by starch consolidation method. Observation of different sample’s regions allowed a more accurate description of ceramic morphology. Plots of resistance to flexion versus porosity and its correlation with the grain size and shape allowed one to choose the best model for representing ceramic’s morphology. Correlation of starch percentage with sample’s porosity and mechanical resistance allowed the best experimental conditions for customized ceramic’s performance.

Abstract: The starch consolidation technique is commonly used for obtaining porous ceramics due to bonding and porous-maker starch characteristic during gelling process. The method adopted here improved the water drainage by using a plaster porous base (70 and 90 consistency values) improving the water drainage by action of gravity and the capillary effect. It used slip with 50 vol% solids and as precursors oxide A-1000SG and commercial cornstarch with a mass concentration varying from 10 to 40%. For comparison between the present method and the common one, slip was put in impermeable and permeable base moulds. The gelling occurred at 70°C for 2 hours and the drying at 110°C. Pre-sintering was carried out at 1000°C and the sintering at 1600°C with a plateau of 1 hour. Results showed that the plaster consistency of the mould bases was preponderant on ceramics porosity. Porosity and apparent density measurements using light and electron microscopy revealed variation of 5% of porosity from the top to the bottom of the samples.

Abstract: The presence of pores in ceramics is directly related to the chosen forming process. So, in the starch consolidation method, the ceramics show, after burning, pores with morphology similar to that presented by this organic material. On the other hand, the increase in solid load leads up to alterations in dispersion viscosity, increasing the thermal stresses during drying and sintering processes. In order to verify the solid percentage influence in ceramic final properties, samples were prepared with silicon carbide in different compositions using or not starch as binder agent and pore forming element. The characterization of the ceramic pieces was performed by superficial roughness measurements, porosity besides by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed ceramics with SiC and starch presented physical and microscopic properties slightly higher in relation to those with only ceramic powder in their composition. The presence of organic material, agglomerated and foam during the forming were essential for the final properties of the studied samples.

Abstract: Several researches have been developed in order to verify the porosity effect over the ceramic material properties. The starch consolidation casting (SCC) allows to obtain porous ceramics by using starch as a binder and pore forming element. This work is intended to describe the porous mathematical behavior and the mechanical resistance at different commercial starch concentration. Ceramic samples were made with alumina and potato and corn starches. The slips were prepared with 10 to 50 wt% of starch. The specimens were characterized by apparent density measurements and three-point flexural test associated to Weibull statistics. Results indicated that the porosity showed a first-order exponential equation e-x/c increasing in both kinds of starches, so it was confirmed that the alumina ceramic porosity is related to the kind of starch used.

Abstract: Engineering ceramics have found use in many applications, such as engine parts, ball bearings, artificial bone and hip replacements and gyroscopes, because of their good chemical inertness, hardness, high temperature stability and excellent wear resistance. Oxide ceramic may meet these demands. Alumina (Al2O3) ceramics offer a high potential for many engineering applications, such as wear- and/or corrosion-resistant components, and as material for substrates or housings in microelectronic devices. Alumina is used among other things for seal ring, draw-cones, guides, water mixing tapes, bearing parts, medical prostheses and cutting tools. Measurements of the elastic energy loss and modulus (anelastic spectroscopy) as a function of temperature can distinguish among the different atomic jumps, which occurs in the various phases or at different local ordering. In this paper, it is reported anelastic relaxation measurements in Al2O3 samples using commercial starch. These measurements were carried out in a torsion pendulum operating in frequencies around 40 Hz. The results shown strongly influence of the type of forming in the elastic modulus obtained by anelastic relaxation measurements.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide (rutile) has a lot of interesting and useful features and hence is widely utilized for application. It has been used as white pigment, photocatalyst, biocompatible material and semiconductor material used in solar battery. In semiconducting TiO2 oxygen vacancies are said to play an important role in the electrical conduction. Measurements of the elastic energy loss and modulus (anelastic spectroscopy) as a function of temperature can distinguish among the different atomic jumps, which occur in the various phases or at different local ordering. In this paper, it is reported anelastic relaxation measurements in TiO2 samples using a torsion pendulum operating in frequencies around 40Hz, in the temperature range between -173 oC to 330 oC with heating rate of 1 oC/min. The results shown a reduction in the elasticity modulus with the increase in the corn starch content used for this consolidation.

Abstract: The main goal of this work is to demonstrate that the use of recycled material originated from SiC ceramics is viable. These ceramics were produced by commercial starch consolidation process. Before calcination stage, surplus of these materials always appears. This surplus is rich in SiC and starch. Samples were made by material previously milled in automatic mortar and sieved (100 Tyler). Later, 10% of distilled water was added to the material and the mixture was pressed at 40 MPa. In order to characterize the ceramic, three point flexural test were made, according to the ASTM C1161/94 norm. The results were analyzed by Weibull statistical method. Apparent density and porosity measures also were made, according to ASTM C20/87 norm. A verification of the surface was made in the fracture area by the depth from focus method and SEM image analysis. The results showed that the recycling process is fully viable, being a good economic option and reduce possible pollutant effect to the environment.