Microstructure Control of Composite Porous Materials and its Application

Abstract

Smart powder processing stands for novel powder processing techniques that create advanced materials with minimal energy consumption and environmental impacts. Particle bonding technology is a typical smart powder processing technique to make advanced composites. The technology has two main unique features. Firstly, it creates direct bonding between particles without any heat support or binders of any kind in the dry phase. The bonding is achieved through the enhanced particle surface activation induced by mechanical energy, in addition to the intrinsic high surface reactivity of nanoparticles. Using this feature, desired composite particles can be successfully fabricated. The second feature of this technology is its ability to control the nano/micro structure of assembled composite particles. As a result, it can custom various kinds of nano/micro structures and can produce new materials with a simpler manufacturing process. In this paper, particle bonding process developed by the authors will be introduced. New one-pot processes for controlling the microstructure of composite porous materials will be explained. They were developed by making use of particle bonding technology. Furthermore, their applications for high performance thermal insulation materials, electrodes of lithium ion battery and those of solid oxide fuel cells will be explained.