Polymer Derived Engineering Ceramics

Engineering ceramics in the system Si-O-C-N-B manufactured from preceramic silicon containing polymers gain in significance with increasing availability of advanced precursor materials such as poly(carbosilane), -(silazane), -(siloxane) or -(borosilazane). While high temperature resistant Si-C and Si-N ceramic fibers are already used to reinforce ceramic matrix composites (CMC) in air- and spacecraft structures, novel products such as coatings, tapes, foams, and complex shaped components for medium and low temperature applications in the fields of energy, environmental, transportation, and communication technologies become more important in the future. Preceramic polymers offer the possibility of using versatile plastic shaping technologies as well as advanced laminated object manufacturing techniques. Properties can be varied in a wide range by tailoring the molecular structure and composition of the precursor polymer and by loading the polymer with intert or reactive filler powders. Partial conversion of the organic polymer into organic/inorganic hybrid materials yields novel materials which exhibit properties between polymers and ceramics.