Ceramic microtubes from preceramic polymers

A novel process for the production ceramic microtubes, involving the micro-extrusion of preceramic polymers, is here reported. Microtubes with a wide range of inner and outer diameters, and several centimeters long were produced from two silicone resins. A co-extrusion approach was also employed to extend the forming capability of the technique. The addition of carbon black resulted in electrically conductive SiOC ceramic microtubes. SiOC microtubes possessed a high bending strength, ranging from about 30 to as high as 1100 MPa