About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T26: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
2026 Graduate Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPG-4: From Hollow Printed Carbon Scaffolds to High-Temperature Si-SiC Encapsulated Phase Change Materials (EPCMs) |
| Author(s) |
Summer-Solstice Thomas, Alice Ly, Katarina Odak, Nathan Smith, Alan Weimer |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Summer-Solstice Thomas |
| Abstract Scope |
This work demonstrates fabrication of silicon carbide encapsulated silicon phase change materials (EPCMs) for high temperature thermal energy storage. Direct Ink Writing printed hollow polymeric carbon precursor shells, pyrolysis converted the polymeric shells to porous amorphous carbon, and liquid silicon infiltration filled the hollow cores with silicon and converted the porous carbon shell to silicon carbide. The polymeric carbon ink consisted of microcrystalline cellulose and phenolic resin dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol. The impact of solids loading on shape retention was systematically evaluated and compared between solid and hollow printed geometries. Pyrolysis driven changes in shape, volume, and mass were quantified. Porosity evolution during pyrolysis was characterized by Micro-CT, revealing minimal dependence on solids loading. Such revealed an ink composition with sufficient print fidelity and porosity suitable for silicon infiltration. EPCMs fabricated with this composition show energy storage promise but leak after a few cycles due to insufficient pore-choking during LSI. |