Engineering the surface texture and shape of channels in ceramic substrates

Ceramic/ceramic joining can transform surface channels on a ceramic subcomponent into an interior channel. Interior channels have a number of potential uses in advanced ceramic applications, including application as conduits of a variety of fluids, such as fuel, medicine, or cooling fluids. For cooling fluids in particular, the surface texture and shape of the channel can greatly affect its heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics. This paper explores means of “engineering” the surface textures and shapes of such channels, including the fabrication of channels with circular and non-circular cross-sections as well as channels with smooth or textured walls (and channels with a combination of smooth and textured regions). The microstructure of the channels is analyzed using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Although LSCM has been used extensively in biological studies, this study is one of the first studies to apply LSCM as a tool to characterize three-dimensional shapes and textures in ceramic materials.