| Scope |
Molecular approaches to ceramic synthesis offer unparalleled control over composition, microstructure, and complex architectures. Preceramic polymers (PCPs) are a unique family of macromolecules that convert from polymeric forms to inorganic materials via high-temperature heat treatment. These polymers typically contain substantial amounts of heteroatoms (Si, B, N) and transition metals (Fe, Ti, Zr). The pyrolysis of PCPs produces polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) with chemistries and nanostructures directly related to the starting polymer, often enabling metastable compositions (e.g., SiNC) impossible to reach via traditional powder processing.
In addition to PCPs, sol-gel processing and chemical vapor techniques (CVD/CVI) represent important routes to the production of advanced ceramics. Sol-gel methods allow for the low-temperature synthesis of ceramic oxides and hybrids through the hydrolysis and condensation of molecular precursors. Similarly, CVD and CVI utilize volatile molecular precursors to deposit high-purity coatings or infiltrate porous scaffolds to create high-performance ceramic matrix composites (CMCs).
By integrating these disciplines, this symposium aims to discuss recent developments in molecular precursor design, advances in processing, and progress in understanding chemistry/structure/property relationships. We encourage presentations ranging from fundamental science to commercial applications.
Areas of Interest
The symposium invites contributions in the following molecular approaches to ceramics
I. Precursor Synthesis and Chemistry
· Synthesis of new PCP systems and post-synthetic modification.
· Design and synthesis of sol-gel precursors and CVD/CVI molecular sources.
· Chemistry, curing, and conversion processes of PCPs.
· Chemical reactions of precursors with environment or reactive fillers.
· PCP for Ultra-High Temperature PDCs and Compositionally Complex Ceramics.
II. Advanced Processing and Manufacturing
· Advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing of PDCs and PDC-composites.
· Novel processing methodologies, including forming and ceramization techniques.
· Sol-gel processing for thin films, fibers, and bulk monoliths.
· Chemical Vapor Infiltration (CVI) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) for coatings and CMC densification.
· PDC and sol-gel fibers, including electrospun materials.
· Processing of CMCs via polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP).
III. Structure, Properties, and Modeling
· Structural characterization and microstructure/property correlation.
· Thermomechanical properties and rheological properties of PCPs.
· Advances in understanding the precursor-to-ceramic transition.
· Modeling and simulation of structure-property relationships and thermodynamic processes.
IV. Functional and Structural Applications
· Porous materials, nanocomposites, and hybrid systems.
· Protective and functional ceramic coatings.
· Functional ceramics for semiconductors, sensors, batteries (energy storage), and catalysts.
· Aerospace and automotive applications, including fibers and CMCs.
· Industrial and engineering applications of PCPs, PDCs, sol-gel processed materials, CMCs, and CVD thin films. |