Abstract Polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) have been intensively studied for nearly 50 years due to their unique advantages to producing ceramic fibers, coatings, foams, nanocomposites and for additive manufacturing. A phenomenon associated with the polymer-to-ceramic transformation process using organo-substituted silicon polymers as the starting material has been widely reported, namely, in situ formation of carbon within the generated silicon-based ceramic matrix. Interestingly, the precipitation of carbon depends to a great extent on the molecular structure of the preceramic polymer and significantly affects the composition, crystallization and decomposition behavior, microstructural evolution as well as the related structural and functional properties of PDCs. Thus, this review article highlights the recent progress in the PDC field with the focus on the fate and role of the in situ formed carbon. Firstly, a brief summary of the synthesis and processing of PDCs is provided, followed by the microstructural characterization of the formed ceramics. The in situ formation of carbon, precursor-carbon-morphology relation and high-temperature evolution of the carbon will be summarized. Secondly, the influence of the segregated carbon on the microstructure and its associated properties of the PDCs will be comprehensively highlighted. Finally, potential advanced structural and functional applications of the PDCs related to the carbon are evaluated.

中文翻译：

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原位形成碳在聚合物衍生陶瓷中的命运和作用

摘要 聚合物衍生陶瓷 (PDCs) 因其在生产陶瓷纤维、涂料、泡沫、纳米复合材料和增材制造方面的独特优势而得到了近 50 年的深入研究。与使用有机取代的硅聚合物作为起始材料的聚合物到陶瓷的转变过程相关的现象已被广泛报道，即在生成的硅基陶瓷基质内原位形成碳。有趣的是，碳的沉淀在很大程度上取决于陶瓷前驱体聚合物的分子结构，并显着影响 PDC 的组成、结晶和分解行为、微观结构演变以及相关的结构和功能特性。因此，这篇综述文章重点介绍了 PDC 领域的最新进展，重点是原位形成碳的命运和作用。首先，简要概述了 PDCs 的合成和加工，然后是成型陶瓷的微观结构表征。将总结碳的原位形成、前体-碳-形态关系和碳的高温演化。其次，将全面突出偏析碳对PDCs微观结构及其相关性能的影响。最后，评估了与碳相关的 PDC 的潜在先进结构和功能应用。其次是成型陶瓷的微观结构表征。将总结碳的原位形成、前体-碳-形态关系和碳的高温演化。其次，将全面突出偏析碳对PDCs微观结构及其相关性能的影响。最后，评估了与碳相关的 PDC 的潜在先进结构和功能应用。其次是成型陶瓷的显微结构表征。将总结碳的原位形成、前体-碳-形态关系和碳的高温演化。其次，将全面强调偏析碳对PDCs微观结构及其相关性能的影响。最后，评估了与碳相关的 PDC 的潜在先进结构和功能应用。