Wood is a natural tissue complex consisting of various cell types such as tracheids, fibres, vessels and parenchyma cells. It is mainly composed of cell walls with cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin as the major biopolymeric constituents. Recent activities are directed to the question how to transform the hierarchical cellular structure of wood into inorganic materials like ceramics with specific functional properties. With regard to SiC-ceramics derived from wood it was shown that the cellular structure can be transformed into biocarbon templates and SiSiC-ceramics. In order to gain further insights into the structure of these ceramics we analyzed SiC-ceramics derived from wood and wooden composites by light microscopy, SEM as well as by SRµCT at the HASYLAB of the Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg. Results showed different porosities of the various materials depending on the infiltration technique; while Si-gas infiltration produced a SiC ceramic with a high porosity liquid Si infiltration resulted in a SiSiC-ceramic with a very low porosity.
Keywords: Wood composites, wood ceramics, synchrotron radiation, SiC, SiSiC
Authors
Lautner S.
Department of Biology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg
Fromm J.
Department of Biology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg
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