Work

Multiscale SiC fiber/nanowire aerogels for broadband electromagnetic wave absorption via scalable ceramic papermaking coupled with CVI

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The escalating demand for multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPSs) necessitates advanced materials that concurrently withstand extreme environments and mitigate electromagnetic wave (EMW) radiation. However, single-scale coarse fiber frameworks often suffer from limited polarization interfaces and loose mechanical interlocking. To address this, by coupling a scalable room-temperature ceramic papermaking strategy with chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), we fabricate multiscale all-ceramic SiCf/SiCnw aerogels (SFWs) that seamlessly bridge millimeter-scale fibers to nanoscale nanowires. Operating entirely under ambient conditions without the need for size-limiting equipment, this highly scalable and versatile strategy enables the fabrication of large-area components with arbitrary geometries. Optimizing the matrix fiber length to 5 mm unlocks sufficient interfiber void space for the uniform proliferation of ultrahigh-aspect-ratio SiC nanowires. The resulting SFW-5 M aerogel achieves an ultralow density of merely 0.23 g·cm−3 alongside an exceptional minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −46.62 dB. Under 1000 °C flame exposure, the back-surface temperature is reliably restricted to approximately 250 °C. Crucially, rather than undergoing catastrophic embrittlement, prolonged ablation triggers a striking “fire-strengthening” effect, simultaneously enhancing compressive peak stresses and expanding the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) to 11.5 GHz—effectively spanning the C, X, and Ku bands (72% of the 2–18 GHz range). Driven by cross-scale synergy between the fibrous scaffold and nanowire network, these durable aerogels overcome the inherent limitations of single-scale scaffolds, offering a scalable paradigm for next-generation aerospace TPS design.

Source: Journal of Advanced Ceramics

DOI: 10.26599/jac.2026.9221360