Method for pyrolyzing preceramic polymer material using electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for fabricating a ceramic material from a preceramic polymer material. The method includes providing a preceramic polymer material that has a preceramic polymer and an electromagnetic radiation-responsive component. The electromagnetic radiation-responsive component is selected from cobalt, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof. An electromagnetic radiation is applied to the preceramic polymer material. The electromagnetic radiation interacts with the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component to generate heat that converts the preceramic polymer to a ceramic material

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for fabricating a ceramic material from a preceramic polymer material, the method comprising:
 providing a preform that includes a fiber structure and preceramic polymer material within the fiber structure, the preceramic polymer material includes a preceramic polymer and an electromagnetic radiation-responsive component, the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component is a metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof; and   applying electromagnetic radiation to the preform, the electromagnetic radiation interacting with the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component to generate heat that converts the preceramic polymer to a ceramic phase.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, rhenium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, hafnium, tantalum, rhenium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component is the cobalt. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the preceramic polymer includes, by volume, 0.1%-10% of the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component.