METHOD FOR PYROLYZING PRECERAMIC POLYMER MATERIAL USING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

1 . A method for fabricating a ceramic material from a preceramic polymer material, the method comprising:

providing a preform that includes a fiber structure and preceramic polymer material within the fiber structure, the preceramic polymer material includes a preceramic polymer and an electromagnetic radiation-responsive component, the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component is a metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof; and

applying electromagnetic radiation to the preform, the electromagnetic radiation interacting with the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component to generate heat that converts the preceramic polymer to a ceramic phase.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, rhenium, and combinations thereof.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, hafnium, tantalum, rhenium, and combinations thereof.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component is the cobalt.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the preceramic polymer includes, by volume, 0.1%-10% of the electromagnetic radiation-responsive component.