Fast pyrolysis of a SiC-based polymer precursor using a spark plasma sintering apparatus – effects of heating methods and pyrolysis atmosphere

Abstract The effects of heating method on the pyrolysis behavior, crystallinity and ceramic yield of a SiC-based precursor-derived ceramic (PDC) were investigated using commercial allylhydrido-polycarbosilane (AHPCS) precursors, spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus and tube furnace. The heating rate of SPS was ten times faster than that of tube furnace. Consequently, the total time of precursor impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) process decreased distinctly after several PIP cycles. PDCs fabricated by SPS had higher crystallinity than those prepared by tube furnace. The crystallinity of PDCs was 70.4 and 65.1%, respectively, after the pyrolysis using SPS and tube furnace at 1400℃ for 1h. The highest crystallinity of 82.92% was achieved after the pyrolysis at 1500℃ for 2h using SPS. The ceramic yield of the precursor was not strongly affected by the heating method. This study provides a promising method for the pyrolysis of ceramic precursors with short processing time and improved thermal stability.