Effect of biological template consolidation on the microstructure and
properties of SnO₂/C bio-morphic materials

Ramie fibers were treated by different finishing processes including water washing, NaOH soaking and oxidative bleaching. The three kinds of finished Ramie fibers as soft carbon precursor were chopped to 10-20mm and blended with phenolic resin as hard carbon precursor with a weight ratio of fibers to resin of 1∶1 and 6mass% toluene sulfochloride as a hardening reagent. The blends were hot-pressed at 130℃ and carbonized at 800℃. The three carbon plates were repeatedly impregnated with Sn(OH)₄ sol to a weight ratio of Sn(OH)₄/carbon of 0.5, followed by carbothermal reduction at 560℃ in vacuum to prepare SnO₂/C bio-morphic materials. The effect of finishing processes on the phase composition and morphology of SnO₂/C bio-morphic materials were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the wear rates of the bio-morphic samples were tested using a home-made abrader. It was found that the microstructure and wear resistance of the SnO₂/C bio-morphic materials are significantly different and could be effectively controlled through the finishing process.