Selective Laser Pyrolysis for Solid Free-FonTI Fabrication of Silicon Carbide

Selective laser pYrolysis rapidly decomposes a polymeric precursor to form a cohesive ceramic shape. The considerable shrinkage and porosity during pYrolysis of pure precursor can be modified by the addition of either inert or reactive fillers. With polycarbosilane as the polymeric precursor, the process forms shapes of ~-SiC and, by using fillers, composites of ~-SiC/Al4C3/Al, ~-SiC/TiC/Ti, and ~-SiC/ZrC/Zr. The technique offers some potential for ceramic shapes with custom designed composition and microstructure including nanometer grain size.