Methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus are provided for additive manufacture resulting in the 3D printing of novel ceramic composites. Additive manufacture or 3D printing of bulk ceramic and ceramic composite components occurs at considerably lower temperatures and shorter manufacturing intervals than the current state of the art. The methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus and selection of precursor resins produce ceramic and ceramic composite material systems which have not been produced before by 3D printing.

Methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus are provided for additive manufacture resulting in the 3D printing of novel ceramic composites. Additive manufacture or 3D printing of bulk ceramic and ceramic composite components occurs at considerably lower temperatures and shorter manufacturing intervals than the current state of the art. The methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus and selection of precursor resins produce ceramic and ceramic composite material systems which have not been produced before by 3D printing.

Methods for producing Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDCs) particles and bulk ceramic components and compositions from partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursors and unique bulk composite PDC ceramics and unique PDC ceramic particles in size and composition. Methods of making fully dense PDCs over approximately 2 m to approximately 300 mm in diameter for applications such as but not limited to proppants, hybrid ball bearings, catalysts, and the like. Methods can include emulsion processes or spray processes to produce PDCs. The ceramic particles and compositions can be shaped and chemically and materially augmented with enhancement particles in the liquid resin or gelatinous polymeric state before being pyrolyzed into ceramic components. Nano-sized ceramic particles are formed from the green body produced by methods for making bulk, dense composite ceramics. The resulting ceramic components have a very smooth surface and are fully dense, not porous as ceramic components from the sol-gel process.

Methods for producing Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDCs) particles and bulk ceramic components and compositions from partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursors and unique bulk composite PDC ceramics and unique PDC ceramic particles in size and composition. Methods of making fully dense PDCs over approximately 2 m to approximately 300 mm in diameter for applications such as but not limited to proppants, hybrid ball bearings, catalysts, and the like. Methods can include emulsion processes or spray processes to produce PDCs. The ceramic particles and compositions can be shaped and chemically and materially augmented with enhancement particles in the liquid resin or gelatinous polymeric state before being pyrolyzed into ceramic components. Nano-sized ceramic particles are formed from the green body produced by methods for making bulk, dense composite ceramics. The resulting ceramic components have a very smooth surface and are fully dense, not porous as ceramic components from the sol-gel process.

Methods for producing Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDCs) particles and bulk ceramic components and compositions from partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursors and unique bulk composite PDC ceramics and unique PDC ceramic particles in size and composition. Methods of making fully dense PDCs over approximately 2 m to approximately 300 mm in diameter for applications such as but not limited to proppants, hybrid ball bearings, catalysts, and the like. Methods can include emulsion processes or spray processes to produce PDCs. The ceramic particles and compositions can be shaped and chemically and materially augmented with enhancement particles in the liquid resin or gelatinous polymeric state before being pyrolyzed into ceramic components. The resulting ceramic components have a very smooth surface and are fully dense, not porous as ceramic components from the sol-gel process.

Methods for producing Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDCs) particles and bulk ceramic components and compositions from partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursors and unique bulk composite PDC ceramics and unique PDC ceramic particles in size and composition. Methods of making fully dense PDCs over approximately 2 m to approximately 300 mm in diameter for applications such as but not limited to proppants, hybrid ball bearings, catalysts, and the like. Methods can include emulsion processes or spray processes to produce PDCs. The ceramic particles and compositions can be shaped and chemically and materially augmented with enhancement particles in the liquid resin or gelatinous polymeric state before being pyrolyzed into ceramic components. The resulting ceramic components have a very smooth surface and are fully dense, not porous as ceramic components from the sol-gel process.

Methods, systems, and processes are used to prepare novel ceramic composite structures that are strong, durable, light-weight, high performance and suitable for a myriad of industrial applications, including, but not limited to, ceramic plates of material suitable for use as ballistic armor. The low manufacturing costs of the processes disclosed provide cheaper, faster ways of producing ceramic matrix composites at lower temperatures and allow for the existence of composite materials and structures which currently are not available.

Methods, systems, and processes are used to prepare novel ceramic composite structures that are strong, durable, light-weight, high performance and suitable for a myriad of industrial applications, including, but not limited to, ceramic plates of material suitable for use as ballistic armor. The low manufacturing costs of the processes disclosed provide cheaper, faster ways of producing ceramic matrix composites at lower temperatures and allow for the existence of composite materials and structures which currently are not available.

A ceramic material has a characteristic length L.sub.a of a micro-structure thereof that satisfies 0.1 L.sub.AMFPL.sub.a100 L.sub.AMFP, and has thermal conductivity that monotonously increases from room temperature to 100 C., where L.sub.AMFP denotes apparent mean free path of phonons at room temperature, and is defined as L.sub.AMFP=(3thermal conductivity)/(heat capacityspeed of sound). The characteristic length L.sub.a of the micro-structure is an interval between particles of different type of material when the ceramic material includes a composite material in which the different type of material is dispersed in a base material, is an interval between one pore and another pore when the ceramic material includes a porous body, and is the crystalline particle size (interval between one grain boundary and another grain boundary) when the ceramic material includes a polycrystalline body.

Methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus are provided for additive manufacture resulting in the 3D printing of novel ceramic composites. Additive manufacture or 3D printing of bulk ceramic and ceramic composite components occurs at considerably lower temperatures and shorter manufacturing intervals than the current state of the art. The methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus and selection of precursor resins produce ceramic and ceramic composite material systems which have not been produced before by 3D printing.