Ceramics including oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, carbonitrides, silicates, and MAX phases have wide applications in electrode materials, high-temperature structural materials, and anticorrosive materials for harsh environments. However, the difficulty in processing ceramics with complex shapes from green powders has been restricting applications in emerging areas. Herein, polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) were used to assist the pressureless processing of MAX phase particles. The processing temperature could be lowered by 400 to 600 °C, which is favorable for both industrialization and engineering applications. The good processability of MAX-preceramic polymer mixtures and high accuracy of replica from preceramic polymer make it possible to fabricate artificial objects with complex shapes and fine texture. This method provides a method to fabricate MAX phase ceramics/composites, as well as some other ceramics.
Keywords: MAX phases; complex shapes; composites; low−temperature sintering; preceramic polymers.