Properties and advanced applications of porous ceramic composites

Porous ceramics combine excellent properties, such as being lightweight, having good mechanical strength and wear behavior, outstanding high-temperature properties, resistance to thermal shock and corrosion, etc. To further enhance their properties and broaden their applications, porous ceramic composites have been developed in recent years by combining at least two different ceramic phases in the porous material, with each maintaining its individual physical and chemical properties separated by a distinct interface. Apart from their superior properties over single-phase porous ceramics, they also offer tailorable composition and microstructure. Accordingly, porous ceramic composites already find applications in diverse areas, such as bone scaffolds, radome materials, electromagnetic shielding applications, filters and membranes, etc., and newer applications are being explored. In this maiden review on porous ceramic composites, different properties and application areas of porous ceramic composites have been critically reviewed, and research areas have been identified for further development.