Porous SiC ceramics were fabricated from a mixture of silicon (Si) and carbon (C). The Si and C mixture was treated first at 1500 oC for the formation of β-SiC and then heated further up to 2150 oC. When the β-SiC particles that were transformed into β-SiC at over 2100 oC, the rapid grain growth of α-SiC consumed the β-matrix SiC particles and ultimately porous interconnected network structure with huge elongated plate-like grains was formed. The effect of the initial composition on the microstructure formation of the porous SiC ceramics was investigated. The mechanical properties of the porous SiC ceramics were examined and discussed.

Keywords: Porous ceramics, Silicon, Carbon, SiC, Porosity, Strength.