Polymer Derived Si–B–C–N Ceramics: 30 Years of Research

TLDR

Long‑term high‑temperature stability remains a major challenge, yet polymer‑derived Si–B–C–N ceramics provide a stable amorphous network and a versatile synthesis route that enables complex geometries. This review surveys 30 years of polymer‑derived Si–B–C–N research, emphasizing how precursor chemistry governs ceramic properties. It discusses tailoring polymeric precursors, processing them into ceramic components, and characterizing their properties and functionalities. The review highlights diverse shaping strategies for functional Si–B–C–N ceramics and outlines current research trends toward future material evolution.

Abstract

Long term stability of ceramics at high temperatures is one of the great challenges of the contemporary technology developments. Multi‐component ceramics such as Si–B–C–N systems gain a lot of interest for high temperature applications due to the stability of their amorphous inorganic network arising from strong covalent bonding. The polymer derived ceramics (PDC) route enables the synthesis of such materials from preceramic polymers as well as their manufacturing as specific ceramic geometries, which are difficult to obtain otherwise. This review proposes an overview of the works related to the development of Si–B–C–N ceramics through the PDC route in the last 30 years. A particular focus is made on the relation between the chemical structure of the precursors and the properties of the resulting ceramics. The main topics reviewed are related to the synthesis of tailor‐made polymeric precursors, to their processing to ceramic components, and to the characterization of the material properties and functionalities. The various strategies adopted for the development of shaped Si–B–C–N ceramics as functional materials are presented and the trend of nowadays research for future evolution of Si–B–C–N materials is discussed.