A novel method was developed to produce ceramic foams from a silicone precursor which was foamed and vulcanised at room temperature. Silicone foams were prepared by platinum catalysed cross-linking and dehydrogenation of reactive polysiloxanes. Silicone foams were converted to ceramic foams after being pyrolysed at 1200 deg C in argon. Near-net-shape polymer-to-ceramic conversion was achieved with SiC particles were added to the polymer as a solid filler. A simple physical model was created to describe the rising and pyrolysis of the silicone foam, and was validated by experimental data. Foam density was largely dependent on the content of ethanol, which was used as a chemical blowing agent. Up to 1.8 wt% ethanol was effective in driving foam rising without leading to foam collapse.
