A comparative study of nano-fillers to improve toughness and modulus of polymer-derived ceramics.

Brittleness is a major limitation of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs). Different concentrations of three nanofillers (carbon nanotubes, SiN and AlO nanoparticles) were evaluated to improve both toughness and modulus of a commercial polysilazane (PSZ) PDC. The PSZs were thermally cross-linked and pyrolyzed under isostatic pressure in nitrogen.