Cordierite ceramics from silicone resins containing nano-sized oxide particle fillers

Many silicates and alumino-silicates feature remarkable mechanical properties at high temperatures, low thermal expansion and high thermal shock resistance, optimum dielectric properties, etc. The poor interdiffusion, due to their characteristic partially covalent bonding however, greatly complicates the obtainment of dense and/or phase pure articles, by conventional sintering. The present paper concerns the realization of high-purity cordierite (2MgO·2Al2O3·5SiO2) components by direct thermal treatment in air of preceramic polymers embedding suitable nano-sized oxide particles. More precisely, a selection of silicone resins allowed the obtainment of both dense and highly porous bodies.