This work reports the effects of using varying weight percentage of nanoparticle inclusions on mechanical performance of continuous fiber ceramic composites. The ceramic fiber reinforcement was NicalonTM, and KiON CERASET ® preceramic polymer was mixed with nanoparticle inclusions in the presence of a surfactant agent, which gave good dispersion of the particles within the matrix. Yttrium oxide nanoparticles with an average size of 29 nm was used as the inclusion with varying weight percentages of 5, 10, 15, and 20%. For comparison, samples without nanoparticles were also manufactured. Two different types of nanoparticle filled composites were manufactured. The first one followed neat preceramic polymer reinfiltration cycle, whereas the second system was manufactured with corresponding nanoparticle dispersed preceramic polymer reinfiltration. A characterization analysis of the samples using scanning electron microscopy revealed proper dispersion of nanoparticle along with good quality of the parts. In general, the weight gain percentage at each stage of reinfiltration/pyrolysis for both types of nanoparticle filled ceramic composites is consistently less than that for ceramic composites manufactured without nanoparticle. This indicates the compactness of the material and retention of shape during the B-staging. Four-point bending test was also conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of the ceramic composite samples at room temperature. Nanoparticle filled samples consistently showed significant improvement in flexural strength compared to their counterparts without nanoparticle reinforcement.
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