| Abstract Scope |
Polymer-Derived Ceramics (PDCs) are novel modern polymers that use reduced processing temperatures to yield ceramics with potentially high complexity and high stability in extreme environments. In this work we manufactured SiOC ceramic monolithic structures by Direct Ink Writing (DIW) of a preceramic polymer containing inert fillers. The preceramic ink with appropriate rheological properties was obtained by mixing the liquid preceramic polymer, 1,3,5,7-tetravinyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TTCS), with ceramic nanoparticles and fibers to generate an extrudable resin. The addition of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) improved the printability of the ink, as well as reduced the shrinkage of the resulting ceramic following curing and pyrolysis. The rheology of the ink was evaluated to develop the printing parameters for fidelity to the design. The composition, degree of transformation, and microstructure of the ceramic were evaluated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and the structural and functional applications of additively manufactured PDCs are also discussed. |