Domestic Manufacturing of Polysilazane Pre-Ceramic Polymers for Advanced Hypersonic Materials

In this Phase I program, Powdermet will work with Cermetech and Current Chemicals to further develop a domestic supply chain for preceramic polymers that are currently used to fabricate high temperature stable polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs). Specifically, this project will focus on establishing capacity to fabricate organosilicon polymers such as polysilazane, that can be converted into silicon containing ceramics such as silicon carbonitride (SiCN) through pyrolysis. While these materials are commercially available through a handful of chemical processors, there are no known processors in the U.S. Cermetech has identified the need for a low-cost, domestic source, and has established partnerships with leading experts in the manufacturing of PDCs, including Powdermet, a materials science innovator and low volume manufacturer, as well as Current Chemicals, an Ohio based specialty chemical processor, that has existing infrastructure that can be quickly and cost effectively converted to process polysilazane and other organosilicon polymer precursors for use in PDCs. The phase I will focus on small volume production of polysilazane formulations for several companies involved in hypersonic materials development, Phase II will focus on small volume niche production capacity, targeting low volume production levels.