Laser Processing of Multi-Phase Ceramics

Author

Siddhartha SarkarFollow

Date of Award

12-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Committee Chair/Advisor

Fei Peng

Committee Member

Hai Xiao

Committee Member

Jianhua Tong

Committee Member

Dongsheng Li

Abstract

This research explores laser-based processing for multi-phase ceramics, offering a faster, more energy-efficient alternative to conventional ceramic fabrication. Four material systems are explored: silica-titania, alumina-iron, polymer-derived ceramic SiC-gadolinium zirconate, and polymer-derived ceramic SiC-yttrium silicate.

The silica-titania study presents a novel direct CO₂ laser writing approach to fabricating pure silica and silica-titania glasses with exceptional dimensional control and optical transparency, enabling fine spatial resolution, instantaneous consolidation, and eliminating post-heat treatment. Notably, the TiO₂ solubility in the silica network achieved is higher than previously reported, with structures remaining crack-free and transparent up to a specific TiO₂ percentage.

The alumina-iron study uses the CO₂ laser sintering method to process alumina-iron compositions with different volume ratios under an inert environment. The method produces well-mixed, uniform, and dense microstructures with clean bonding and minimal porosity, leveraging hercynite formation to enhance wetting at the ceramic/metal interface.

The PDC SiC- GZ and PDC SiC- YS studies explore the use of ultra-fast CO₂ laser sintering and PS laser micro-machining to fabricate high-throughput composite sample arrays for protecting SiC-based CMCs in high-temperature turbine environments. By varying compositions, a diverse range of crack-free microstructures and relative densities were rapidly generated, supporting the advancement of polymer-derived functional graded coatings.

Overall, this research leverages ultra-fast laser-selective convergent manufacturing (ULCM) in creating high-resolution, advanced ceramic structures with minimal post-processing. The research findings promise impactful applications in photonics, optoelectronics, and aerospace, supporting the development of robust, high-performance ceramic components.

Recommended Citation

Sarkar, Siddhartha, "Laser Processing of Multi-Phase Ceramics" (2024). All Dissertations. 3798.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3798