Ceramics PDF

ABSTRACT

This paper presents an overview of our research on the preparation of monolithic and composite non-oxide ceramic foams derived from polymeric precursors. Two new methods to product ceramic foams from polymeric precursors were developed ..Firstly, synthesis of silicon carbide (SiC) foams as a product of direct pyrolysis of polysilane precursors and, secondly, preparation of SiC and silicon carbide-silicon nitride (SiC-Si3 N4 ) composite foams using polymeric precursor solutions are described. The features of the ceramic foams produced were dependent on the compositions and the structures of the precursors. In the case of direct pyrolysis, the best SiC foams were produced using precursors with pyrolytic yields between 50-60 wt%. Ceramic foams produced by the polymeric precursor solution method have well-defined open-cell structures with the strut cross-sections free of macro-voids.

Edited by: Julie Yeomans