Silicon Carbide is one of the most broadly useful materials for extreme-heat applications, but its high thermal conductivity and density have limited its applications. 

Semplastics introduces a light-weight, highly-insulating pure silicon carbide foam, X-Foam HT, that has a low relative density and small pore size. It is stable in air to 1400ºC for many use cases.  Use in inert atmospheres allows it to go to much higher temperatures. 

Semplastics also offers original X-Foam, a Silicon Oxycarbide foam which has many properties in common with our new silicon carbide foam. X-Foam is slightly tougher, but is stable in air long term up to 1250ºC. It is less expensive than the Silicon Carbide X-Foam HT, and works for many of the same applications.

X-FOAM Insulation and Thermal Shock Performance

In this demonstration of X-Foam’s world-class thermal insulation ability (0.034W/m·K), a 1 centimeter thick piece of X-Foam protects water ice from the 1900°C propane flame.

In this demonstration, X-Foam is subjected to an extreme thermal shock—first submerged in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, then immediately exposed to an open flame from a propane torch. The test highlights X-Foam’s exceptional thermal resilience, structural stability, and resistance to cracking under rapid and severe temperature changes.

This test highlights the performance of X-Foam enhanced with a proprietary diffusion barrier coating. The coated foam is rapidly cycled from submersion in liquid nitrogen to direct flame exposure, showcasing its ability to withstand extreme thermal gradients without visible damage, delamination or structural compromise.

Applications

  • Aerospace Insulation

  • Molten Metal Filtering

  • Hot Gas Permeability

  • Furnace Insulation

  • Pyrolysis Insulation

  • Oven Furniture

PROPERTIES

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About

X-FOAM

  • Semplastics X-FOAM and X-FOAM HT give designers new options in the realms of:

    • Low mass foam core CMCs for 1400ºC and 1600ºC applications

    • Oxidation resistant back-up insulation for coated Carbon/Carbon

    • Low thermal mass insulation for ovens, furnaces, and kilns

    • Very high temperature and high-permeability gas filtration and re-usable bio-filters

  • There are two ways to control the shape and size of this material.

    1. It can be designed in the green state and fired with custom curves and shapes.

    2. It is very easily machines in its final shape using basic tools and holds an edge.

    3. Customizable Pores Per Inch