Additive Manufacturing of Ceramics Enabled by Flash Pyrolysis of Polymer Precursors with Nanoscale Layers

We show that a polymer‐based route to ceramics can be implemented into additive manufacturing by reducing the time for pyrolysis to about a second, which we call flash pyrolysis. Repetitive deposition of nanometer scale coatings of the ceramic, in this way, is employed to create defect‐free infiltrations of carbon fiber composites. The mechanical strength of the fibers is retained in the composite. Excellent wetting properties of the polymer precursor permits three‐dimensional, conformal coating through the three stages of infiltration: nanoscale coating of the single fibers, filling of interstitial spaces between the fibers, and a buildup of the coating over the entire composite. The flash pyrolysis method will enable a new genre of polymer‐derived ceramics made into net shape by this unusual method of additive manufacturing.     

Influence of SiC content on the oxidation of carbon fibre reinforced ZrB2/SiC composites at 1500 and 1650 °C in air

The microstructure and the oxidation resistance in air of continuous carbon fibre reinforced ZrB₂–SiC ceramic composites were investigated. SiC content was varied between 5–20?vol.%, while maintaining fibre content at ～40?vol.%. Short term oxidation tests in air were carried out at 1500 and 1650?°C in a bottom-up loading furnace. The thickness, composition and microstructure of the resulting oxide scale were analysed by SEM-EDS and X-Ray diffraction. The results show that contents above 15?vol.% SiC ensure the formation of a homogeneous protective borosilicate glass that covers the entire sample and minimizes fibre burnout. The scale thickness is ～90?μm for the sample containing 5?vol.% SiC and decreases with increasing SiC content.     

Nanoindentation Characterization of Submicro- and Nano-Sized Liquid-Phase-Sintered SiC Ceramics

Submicro- and nano-sized liquid-phase-sintered SiC ceramics were mechanically tested by nanoindentation in the peak load range 5–400 mN. The submicro-sized sample showed a marked indentation size effect which the nano-sized samples did not exhibit. The relevance of indentation depth with respect to the microstructural scale has been outlined. In the investigated grain-size range, the hardness dependence on the grain size could be described by a load-dependent inverse Hall–Petch relation. Young's modulus was less microstructure- and load-dependent. Because of the very fine microstructure, the nano-sized SiC materials gave lower elastic values than the submicro-sized SiC ceramic.     

High temperature oxidation of Zr- and Hf-carbides: Influence of matrix and sintering additive

Ultra-high temperature ceramics having melting points above 3500 K and high thermal conductivities are envisaged as future receivers of concentrating solar power plants. The high pressure and solar temperature reactor (Réacteur Hautes Pression et Température Solaire, REHPTS) implemented at the focus of the Odeillo 5 kW solar furnace was used to investigate the oxidation of three refractory carbides containing different sintering additives (HfC/MoSi₂, ZrC/MoSi₂, ZrC/TaSi₂) that could be considered as promising candidates. The concentration of the additive, TaSi₂ or MoSi₂, was 20 vol%. Each kind of sample was oxidized in air for 20 min at 1800, 2000 and 2200 K. Experiments were filmed using a video camera and the gaseous phases were analyzed in situ by mass spectrometry. Various post-test characterizations have shown that the nature of the carbide and additive strongly affects the composition of the oxide layer and therefore the high-temperature behaviour.     

Probiotics as Potential Biological Immunomodulators in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus: What’s New?

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory disorder with multifactorial aetiology and malignant transformation potential. Despite the treatments so far identified, new tailored and safe specific measures are needed. Recently, human microbiota imbalance has been linked to several immune-mediated diseases, opening new therapeutic perspectives for probiotics; besides their ability to directly interact with the host microbiota, they also display a strain-specific immune-modulatory effect. Thus, this non-systematic review aims to elucidate the molecular pathways underlying probiotic activity, mainly those of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria and their metabolites in OLP pathogenesis and malignant transformation, focusing on the most recent in vitro and in vivo research evidence. Findings related to their activity in other immune-mediated diseases are here included, suggesting a probiotic translational use in OLP. Probiotics show immune-modulatory and microbiota-balancing activities; they protect the host from pathogens, hamper an excessive effector T cell response, reduce nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signalling and basal keratinocytes abnormal apoptosis, shifting the mucosal response towards the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing uncontrolled damage. Therefore, probiotics could be a highly encouraging prevention and immunotherapeutic approach for a safer and more sustainable OLP management.     

Properties of a Pressureless-Sintered ZrB2–MoSi2 Ceramic Composite

A ZrB₂-based composite was fully densified by pressureless sintering at 1850°C with addition of 20 vol% MoSi₂. The microstructure was very fine, with mean dimensions of ZrB₂ grains around 2.5 μm. The four-point flexural strength in air was in excess of 500 MPa up to 1500°C.     

Joining of ultra-refractory carbides

Transient-liquid-phase (TLP) bonding enables joining at reduced temperatures relative to those required by more traditional joining routes while preserving the potential for high-temperature applications of ultrarefractory carbides. Pure ZrC, HfC and TaC ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) were joined using a multilayer Ni/Nb/Ni interlayer by executing a 30-min bonding cycle under low load (<1.3 kPA) at 1400 °C in a high-vacuum furnace. Microstructural and microchemical analyses of the resulting joints were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The SEM/EDS analysis suggests that the (Ni,Nb)-containing liquid formed during bonding wets the carbide matrices properly, resulting in well-bonded crack-free interfaces between the UHTCs and the Nb-rich interlayer. Although there were many similarities between the resulting joints, the microstructures in the interlayer-carbide transition regions also exhibited considerable diversity.     

Synthesis,consolidation and characterization of monolithic and SiC whiskers reinforced HfB2 ceramics

Spark Plasma Sintering is used for the fabrication of highly dense HfB₂ monolithic and HfB₂–26 vol.% SiC_w composite. Reactive SPS from elemental reactants is preferred for the preparation of bulk HfB₂ instead of classical sintering. The desired phase is rapidly formed through a solid–solid combustion synthesis mechanism, while full densification is achieved in 30 min at 1350 A when the applied pressure is switched from 20 to 50 MPa after the synthesis reaction. A 99.4% dense whiskers-reinforced HfB₂ ceramic matrix composite is also obtained in 30 min by SPS (I = 1350 A, P = 20 MPa) using SHSed HfB₂ powders and SiC_w. Nevertheless, whiskers degradation into SiC_p resulted under such conditions (temperature up to 1830 °C). On the other hand, the presence of whiskers is clearly evidenced in 96% dense products obtained when the applied current was decreased down to 1200 A (1700 °C) while P was increased to 60 MPa.