Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Electrospun SiC / SiO 2 Fibrous Membranes Tuned by Nano‐ SiO 2 Doping

Abstract

ABSTRACT Silicon carbide (SiC) fibrous membranes are promising materials for water treatment owing to their chemical stability and corrosion resistance. In this study, SiC/SiO 2 composite fibrous membranes were fabricated from polycarbosilane (PCS) via electrospinning, nano‐SiO 2 incorporation, and stacking compaction followed by pyrolysis. An electrospinning voltage of 13–16 kV and a feeding rate of 1.8 mL/h produced uniform precursor fibers with an average diameter of 0.45 μm. Air curing at 200°C–220°C followed by pyrolysis at 1300°C enabled ceramic conversion while preserving the fibrous structure. The effects of SiO 2 additions ranging from 0 to 0.3 g per 1.0 g of PCS on membrane morphology, phase composition, and pore structure were investigated. The membrane containing 0.2 g of SiO 2 per 1.0 g of PCS exhibited uniform surface particle distribution and refined β‐SiC crystallites. Compared with Pure SiC, its water contact angle increased from 78.4° to 121.0°, while its elastic modulus and hardness increased by 83.8% and 137.8%, respectively. A high bulk porosity of 82.5% was retained. These results demonstrate an effective strategy for tailoring the microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC‐based fibrous membranes, providing a material basis for subsequent separation applications.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2026 · DOI ↗