Processing of SiC ceramics with high reliability using chemically modifiedpolycarbosilane as a compaction binder

Chemically modified polycarbosilane containing organofluoric groups, PCOCF, was synthesized and used as a compaction binder for WC ceramics. The powde r fluidity and the powder packing property were evaluated by measuring angl e of repose, tap density, green density and pore size distribution of both the binder coated powders and the compacts. The PCOCF coated SIC powder sho wed improved fluidity and packing property, owing to the organofluoric side chains of PCOCF. Thus, the PCOCF coating was found to be the most effectiv e among other binders to lubricate the SiC particles, which results in a hi gher compaction under the same loading conditions. The compact of PCOCF coa ted SiC powder contains only homogeneously dispersed small pores, and there fore, the mechanical strength of the sintered body can be improved, the sca tter in bending strength values being also significantly reduced due to the PCOCF coating.