Silicon carbide (SiC) is widely used ceramic material in the chemical industry due to its chemical inertness and high-temperature stability. However, conventional production methods (especially for complex shapes) are energy-intensive and technically challenging. Additive manufacturing (AM) offers a promising alternative, but issues like binder removal and high densification temperatures (1600–2000 °C) hinder its broader adoption. Preceramic polymers (PCP) present a viable solution, functioning as non-sacrificial binders with low-temperature pyrolysis required to form a ceramic. In this work, PCP polymethylsiloxane was evaluated as a key component of a thermoplastic binder system for producing SiC-based filaments suitable for fused filament fabrication (FFF). Mixtures containing 40–50 vol.% β-SiC powder with PCP Silres MK (SMK) and thermoplastic polymer ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) in varying SMK:EVA ratios were homogenized and extruded into 1.75 mm filaments. Filament printability was primarily influenced by its melt viscosity and flexibility. The printable upper limit was reached at 44 vol.% SiC, while increasing SMK content reduced filament flexibility. Printed samples were pyrolyzed at 700, 1000, and 1500 °C in argon. Unlike conventional SiC processing, polymer to ceramic conversion occurred at significantly lower temperatures, forming a ceramic composite with an SiOC matrix (from SMK) and SiC passive filler. The final product showed minimal shrinkage (<5%) and no major defects. Flexural strength was found to depend primarily on the amount of SMK in the formulation. As a result, maximal flexural strength of 120 MPa was obtained for composition containing 42 vol.% SiC and SMK:EVA ratio of 65:35, after pyrolysis at 1000 °C. These results confirm that PCP-based filaments enable FFF of complex SiC ceramics with adequate mechanical properties for applications such as catalyst supports. Furthermore, these properties are achieved at relatively low pyrolysis temperatures, making the process more energy-efficient.
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