Preceramic polymer derived cellular ceramics

Ceramic foams were prepared by a self-blowing process of a poly(silsesquioxane) melt at 270 °C. The cell size, the interconnectivity density and the shape of the foam cells were adjusted by a thermal pre-curing procedure of the polymer at 200 °C. Inorganic fillers were used to modify processing behaviour and properties of the pyrolysed ceramic foam. After pyrolysis in inert atmosphere at 1200 °C ceramic composite foams with a total porosity up to 87% were obtained. The open cell ceramic foams had a mean cell diameter of 1.2 mm and a mean strut thickness of 0.2 mm. Interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) were fabricated by infiltrating the open cellular ceramic preform with Mg alloy melt at 680 °C and a pressure of 86 MPa. The mechanical properties were found to depend on the reactions between the metal and the ceramic forming MgO, Mg2Si and Al12Mg17 as the major reaction products. The IPCs showed a significantly higher creep resistance at 135 °C, compression strength and elastic modulus compared to the unreinforced magnesium alloys.