A composite member includes an inorganic matrix part made from an inorganic substance and a dispersed component present in a dispersed state within the inorganic matrix part and having elasticity, wherein a material making up the dispersed component has a modulus of elasticity in tension of 100 Pa or more and 3.5 GPa or less. The composite member has a porosity of 20% or less in a section of the inorganic matrix part.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

A prepreg including a support with, for more than 90% of the weight thereof, of ceramic fibers, and a thermoreversible liquefiable gel covering, at least in part, at least one portion of the ceramic fibers. The liquefiable gel including: 20% to 60% of ceramic particles and 0% to 10% of metal particles, both as percentage by volume based on the volume of the liquefiable gel; 0.2% to 10% of a thermoreversible hydrocolloid and 0% to 7% of one or more other constituents, both as a percentage by weight on the basis of the total weight of the ceramic particles and metal particles; the balance to 100% being water. It being possible for the ceramic particles and the metal particles to be replaced, partially or completely, by precursors of ceramic particles and of metal particles, respectively, capable of forming, by heat treatment above 200° C., ceramic particles and metal particles, respectively.

A prepreg including a support with, for more than 90% of the weight thereof, of ceramic fibers, and a thermoreversible liquefiable gel covering, at least in part, at least one portion of the ceramic fibers. The liquefiable gel including: 20% to 60% of ceramic particles and 0% to 10% of metal particles, both as percentage by volume based on the volume of the liquefiable gel; 0.2% to 10% of a thermoreversible hydrocolloid and 0% to 7% of one or more other constituents, both as a percentage by weight on the basis of the total weight of the ceramic particles and metal particles; the balance to 100% being water. It being possible for the ceramic particles and the metal particles to be replaced, partially or completely, by precursors of ceramic particles and of metal particles, respectively, capable of forming, by heat treatment above 200° C., ceramic particles and metal particles, respectively.

An alumina/titanium silicon carbide composite material is prepared by making titanium aluminum carbide (Ti.sub.3AlC.sub.2) in uniform contact with silicon monoxide (SiO), and carrying out vacuum sintering. The composite material is obtained through mutual diffusion of aluminum and silicon and has high compactness and stable performance. In the composite material, the alumina is generated by means of a reaction between the titanium aluminum carbide and the silicon monoxide, and can be uniformly wrapped around surfaces of titanium silicon carbide crystals to form a relatively compact oxide film, such that substance exchange between a matrix and the outside is hindered, and overall antioxidation of the composite material is improved. Toughness of the composite material is enhanced by means of the titanium silicon carbide. The prepared composite material has relatively high purity, relatively low sintering temperature, and relatively high bending strength. The process is simple and convenient for industrial production.

An alumina/titanium silicon carbide composite material is prepared by making titanium aluminum carbide (Ti.sub.3AlC.sub.2) in uniform contact with silicon monoxide (SiO), and carrying out vacuum sintering. The composite material is obtained through mutual diffusion of aluminum and silicon and has high compactness and stable performance. In the composite material, the alumina is generated by means of a reaction between the titanium aluminum carbide and the silicon monoxide, and can be uniformly wrapped around surfaces of titanium silicon carbide crystals to form a relatively compact oxide film, such that substance exchange between a matrix and the outside is hindered, and overall antioxidation of the composite material is improved. Toughness of the composite material is enhanced by means of the titanium silicon carbide. The prepared composite material has relatively high purity, relatively low sintering temperature, and relatively high bending strength. The process is simple and convenient for industrial production.

A ceramic composite and a method of preparing the same are provided. The method of preparing the ceramic composite includes mixing an aluminum slag and a carbon accelerator to obtain a mixture and reacting the mixture at a temperature equal to or greater than 1600° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere to obtain a ceramic composite. The aluminum slag includes aluminum, oxygen, nitrogen, and magnesium. The weight ratio of the oxygen to the aluminum is 0.6 to 2. The weight ratio of the nitrogen to the aluminum is 0.1 to 1.2. The weight ratio of the magnesium to the aluminum is 0.04 to 0.2. The ceramic composite includes aluminum nitride accounting for at least 90 wt % of the ceramic composite.

A system and method to dry plug cement in a ceramic honeycomb body during the manufacture of plugged ceramic honeycomb bodies. The system includes a heating element (520) configured to immediately heat without contact a face (502) of a ceramic honeycomb body (500) plugged with a wet plug cement (510) to rapidly dry and stiffen the plug cement (510) on the face (502) of the ceramic honeycomb body (500). The method includes immediately applying heat without contact to a face (502) of a ceramic honeycomb body (500) having wet plug cement (510) disposed in channels (508) of the ceramic honeycomb body at the face, and rapidly drying and stiffening the plug cement on the face of the ceramic honeycomb body.

A system and method to dry plug cement in a ceramic honeycomb body during the manufacture of plugged ceramic honeycomb bodies. The system includes a heating element (520) configured to immediately heat without contact a face (502) of a ceramic honeycomb body (500) plugged with a wet plug cement (510) to rapidly dry and stiffen the plug cement (510) on the face (502) of the ceramic honeycomb body (500). The method includes immediately applying heat without contact to a face (502) of a ceramic honeycomb body (500) having wet plug cement (510) disposed in channels (508) of the ceramic honeycomb body at the face, and rapidly drying and stiffening the plug cement on the face of the ceramic honeycomb body.