Anisotropically Thermal-Protective Porous Ceramics Enabled by Nacre-Like Framework

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Ceramic Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for advanced thermal protection materials.
• Existing materials face challenges in balancing thermal insulation, mechanical properties, and manufacturing complexity.
• Need for integrated solutions for demanding thermal management applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel ceramic material with enhanced thermal insulation and mechanical strength.
• To address the limitations of current thermal protective materials.
• To create a scalable manufacturing process for high-performance ceramics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nacre-like porous ceramic using a bottom-up film-to-bulk assembly.
• Characterization of thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.
• Evaluation of fire resistance and post-fire performance.

Main Results:

• Achieved a ceramic material with low thermal conductivity (≈0.058 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) and high mechanical strength (22 MPa).
• Nacre-like microstructure with aligned microplatelets and mineral bridges enhances insulation and strength.
• Demonstrated structure-induced anisotropy in thermal conductivity for tailored heat management.
• Exhibited excellent fire resistance and maintained performance after exposure to fire.

Conclusions:

• The developed nacre-like porous ceramic offers an integrated solution for thermal protection.
• Scalable bottom-up assembly enables efficient manufacturing of high-performance materials.
• The material's properties make it suitable for complex thermal protection applications, including aerospace and industrial uses.