Influence of nano-aluminum filler on the microstructure of SiOC ceramics

Ceramic SiC-mullite-Al₂O₃ based nanocomposites were successfully obtained at temperatures below 1500 °C after pyrolysis and annealing of green compacts prepared by cross-linking and shaping in a warm press step of commercial poly(methylsilsesquioxane) MK polymer mechanically mixed with aluminum filler having nanoparticle size. The heat treatment takes place under the exclusion of oxygen (inert argon atmosphere) and temperatures as low as 800 °C initiate the crystallization of a silicon carbide phase. The influence of the nano-aluminum filler and of the pyrolysis temperature on the crystallization behavior of the materials has been investigated. It was confirmed that an appropriate amount of nano-aluminum filler leads to a cristobalite free bulk SiOC ceramic. In consequence, the received ceramic samples have to be considered as a nano/micro-ceramic composite consisting of crystals of mullite (average dimension in the range of 200 nm), silicon carbide (20 nm) and α-alumina (50 nm).