Abstract: A novel process for fabricating complex-shaped silicon carbide ceramic parts based on the stereolithography (SL) prototyping techonology is presented. Carbon template is fabricated by pyrolysis of SL prototype at a heating rate of 20 ℃/min from room temperature to 800 ℃ and then hold 30 min under vacuum. The identification of volatile components derived from pyrolysis of photo-curable resin is investigated by pyrolysis / Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer (Py/FTIR). The ele-ments identification and chemical bond analysis of the pyro-lyzate of photo-curable resin are studied by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and FTIR respectively. The morphology of the carbon template is analyzed by scanning electron micro-scope (SEM). Open porosity of the carbon templates are meas-ured by Archimedes principle. The results show that the pyroly-sis reaction is a condensation polymerization process in which low molecular weight paraffin hydrocarbon, CO2 and aldehyde are produced and escape in gaseity. So a little carbon is lost. The pyrolyzates are porous carbonaceous materials that contain a little H and O. The open porosity is 42% and increases with the heating rate. The residual carbon mass fraction of SL proto-type is 10%. The bending strength of the carbon template is 22 Mpa that is sufficient for the requirement of infiltration of Si.

Key words: Carbon template, Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer, Pyrolysis, Stereolithography prototype