[nanoPost] Nanostructured Ceramic Forming Polymers

Company Germany

The company's Matrix Polymers produce high purity nanostructured silicon carbide ceramics that are stable at very high temperatures.  Starfire polymers and matrix slurries combine the flexible design and processing advantages of plastics with the desirable performance characteristics of nanostructured silicon carbide ceramics.

The polymers yield ceramics with a stoichiometric ratio of SiC that provides users with thermal stability and hardness that is comparable to a diamond.  These monolithic and fiber reinforced composite ceramic components are lightweight, durable, and tailorable across a wide range of applications. 

The polymers are redefining industrial ceramics by combining the processing ease of plastics with the engineering advantages of nanostructured silicon carbide ceramics. 

The Polymers offer the following materials advantages:  

- Handling Ease: Simply soak Polymers in a preform or formulate with desired fillers.
- Customizable properties: Viscosities can range from water like to peanut butter in consistency depending on the application.
- Broad material compatibility:  Hybrid Material production possible
- Low temperature cure:  200-400°C.   Can form a ceramic and bond to metals as low as 800°C.
- Easy Formulation of Complex shapes:  Liquid polymers enable construction of thick (up to 2") near net-shape parts.  Rigid preforms are machinable with conventional tooling.
- Excellent Mechanical Properties: Corrosion Resistance, Wear Resistance, Thermal Stability, Compressive Strength, and Tensile Strength
- Processing Ease:  Allows use of low cost inert gas furnaces and low cost reusable molds.
- High Ceramic Yield: Yield is 75-80% versus 20-40% for competing products.  Porosity can be varied from 35% to helium tight.
- High Temperature Stability: Ceramics are stable to 1900°C in air and 2200°C in inert gas.