Flexible and high-temperature resistant ZrO2/SiC-based nanofiber membranes for high temperature thermal insulation

Silicon carbide (SiC) fibers have excellent high temperature resistance and chemical stability in extreme environment. However, the practical application of SiC fibers have been limited by their high intrinsic thermal conductivity. Herein, the novel ZrO2/SiC-based nanofiber membranes with high temperature resistance and low thermal conductivity were prepared for the first time using simple blending method via electrospinning technique combined with subsequent curing and pyrolysis. The microstructure, composition, high temperature resistance and thermal insulation mechanisms were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the introduction of Zr could significantly improve the high temperature resistance of the nanofibers up to 1400 °C, at the same time, the multi-phase microstructure (SiOxCy, ZrO2, β-SiC and residual carbon) endows it with ultralow thermal conductivity at high temperature (0.217 W m-1 K-1 at 1300 °C). Compared with the reported thermal insulation materials, this work not only prepares thermal insulation materials with higher temperature resistance, but also provides a new perspective for the research of SiC-based nanofibers in the field of thermal insulation.