Dual Crosslinking-Based Synthesis of High-Performance Liquid Zirconia Precursors for Polymer Infiltration Pyrolysis Applications

Jae-Il So; Keon-ho Lee; HoYoung Hwang; Jinkyu Choi; Sea-Hoon Lee

doi:10.3740/MRSK.2025.35.12.664

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2025 Vol.35, Issue 12 Preview Page Next Page

Special Issue KIMS - Research Paper

Dual Crosslinking-Based Synthesis of High-Performance Liquid Zirconia Precursors for Polymer Infiltration Pyrolysis Applications 이중가교법을 적용한 저점도, 고수율 지르코니아 액상전구체 합성

27 December 2025. pp. 664-675

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Abstract

Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) exhibit extremely high melting points (> 2,500 °C) and maintain structural stability under severe conditions. However, their intrinsic brittleness and oxidation vulnerability limit their direct application in aerospace components exposed to extreme environments. To overcome these limitations, UHTC-based composites reinforced with secondary phases such as ZrO₂ are required to improve fracture toughness and oxidation resistance. The polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process provides a promising fabrication route for such composites, offering densification of porous matrices with liquid precursors while maintaining uniform microstructures. Here, we report a novel zirconia precursor (PZC-12) synthesized through a sol-gel reaction of zirconium propoxide with acrylic acid (1:2 molar ratio). The liquid precursor exhibited a suitable viscosity (~518 cP) and enabled dual crosslinking via hydroxyl condensation combined with radical polymerization of vinyl groups. Consequently, effective thermal curing was accomplished upon heating at 80 °C for 12 h. This strategy minimized premature decomposition and achieved a high ceramic yield of 52.7 %. Pyrolysis at 600 °C in air produced nanosized t-ZrO₂, which transformed into m-ZrO₂ with grain growth at higher temperatures. Applied in PIP, a ZrB₂-ZrO₂ composite was successfully fabricated, demonstrating that dual crosslinking is critical for high-yield, reliable PIP-based UHTC composites.

Keywords

zirconia

polymer infiltration pyrolysis

inorganic polymer

ultra-high temperature ceramic composite

extreme materials

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Information

Publisher :Materials Research Society of Korea
Publisher(Ko) :한국재료학회
Journal Title :Korean Journal of Materials Research
Journal Title(Ko) :한국재료학회지
Volume : 35
No :12
Pages :664-675
Received Date : 2025-09-10
Revised Date : 2025-11-10
Accepted Date : 2025-11-10
DOI :https://doi.org/10.3740/MRSK.2025.35.12.664

Korean Journal of Materials Research ISSN:1225-0562(Print) 2287-7258(Online) 한국재료학회지

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