| Abstract | This study introduces a novel approach for fabricating ceramic structures using a silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) preceramic resin enhanced with boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) through digital light processing (DLP). These ceramics feature intricate shapes and high-resolution triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) architectures with low relative density structures but dense (low-porosity) ceramic features. Incorporating BNNTs at low concentrations (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 wt%) into a commercially available SiOC precursor, which was then formulated for DLP printing, resulted in a significant reduction in porosity and improved mechanical performance in the polymer-derived SiOC. This combined effect preserved original designs with higher accuracy and significantly enhanced energy absorption and compressive strength of the 3D-printed ceramics compared to baseline SiOC lattices, by factors of 4.4 and 6 times, respectively. Characterization revealed modest changes in storage and loss moduli with BNNT addition, while the BNNT-modified formulation exhibited excellent printability, and ceramic density measurements confirmed a slight increase with BNNT incorporation. This innovative approach, paired with the versatility of additive digital manufacturing, enables the creation of customizable, bio-inspired ceramic structures with tunable properties for aerospace, energy, and biomedical applications. |
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