Processing of polymer-derived porous SiC body using allylhydridopolycarbosilane (AHPCS) and PMMA microbeads

Abstract

A simple method for making a porous SiC body through a polymeric route at one firing processing was demonstrated by the sacrificial filler template approach. By incorporating sacrificial pore-forming plastic powder, PMMA microbeads, into liquid preceramic polymer, AHPCS, and losing it after the polymer was hardened, a preceramic porous body was formed. As a consequence of systematic examination of the effects of particle size and mixture ratio of the powder, an AHPCS-derived porous SiC body was reproducibly formed without critical crack initiation. It was enabled only when the polymer was sufficiently contained to make a strong skeletal structure with the sacrificial plastic particles closely distributed. The porous microstructure would contribute to efficient gas emission and uniform thermal shrinkage during polymer pyrolysis, which reduced internal pressure and crack-causing thermal stress.