Nickel Wick by Continuous Freeze-Casting: Influences of the Particle Size on the Capillarity and Mechanical Properties

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the particle size range, the freeze casting temperature and sintering temperature on the capillarity performance and mechanical properties of Ni wicks manufactured by freeze-casting. The use of Ni/camphene-polystyrene suspensions creates wicks with an open porosity above 80% and average pore sizes of 38 μm to 17 μm by tailoring the particle size ranges and freezing temperatures employed. The incorporation of PS and the use of a continuous freeze-casting process reduces the particle sedimentation and generates a highly interconnected pore structure with regular pore sizes across the sample. The capillarity performances exhibit a fast and complete water adsorption, especially in Ni wicks freeze-casted at 10 °C and sintered at 800 °C, but only when the smaller particle size range is used do Ni wicks achieve sufficient mechanical strength.