Ceramic composites derived from poly(phenylsilsesquioxane)/Al2O3/Nb

Active filler controlled reaction pyrolysis of polymers (AFCOP) is a recent method for obtaining near-net shaped ceramic bodies from a mixture of polymers, reactive filler and inert filler. Samples containing 60 wt.% of poly(phenylsilsesquioxane) (PPS) and 40 wt.% of metallic niobium and alumina powders were homogenized, uniaxially warm pressed and subsequently pyrolyzed in flowing argon at 1200, 1400 and 1600 °C. Ceramic bodies were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), porosity measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). sults indicated that the AFCOP process is potentially very suitable for obtaining multiphase composite materials of the Al2O3–Nb system at low temperatures.