High‐Performance Polymer‐derived Ceramics in LCD 3D Printing

Abstract This study demonstrates the fabrication of high‐strength, lightweight polymer‐derived ceramics (PDCs) using silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)‐precursor formulations with liquid crystal display (LCD) vat photopolymerization (VPP) technology. Complex geometries, such as gyroids and stochastic lattices, are successfully 3D‐printed and evaluated under varying feature thicknesses and pyrolysis temperatures (800 °C and 1200 °C). Photorheology and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) validated the efficient curing and pyrolysis characteristics of a printable precursor formulation based on vinyl methoxysiloxane homopolymer (VMM‐010), which demonstrated rapid curing, low viscosity, and compatibility with LCD 3D printing, ensuring precise layering and efficient resin removal. Micro‐CT scans confirmed its structural integrity and absence of voids, even in relatively thick components (≈3 mm). The VMM‐based PDC lattices achieved specific compressive strengths up to 9.4 MPa g⁻¹ cm 3 , a 50‐fold improvement over comparable lattices produced with a high‐porosity SiOC PDC, and exceptional high‐temperature stability, maintaining structural integrity after 2 h at 1500 °C. Compositional analysis revealed lower free carbon content and improved ceramic phase formation, driving the enhanced mechanical and thermal performance of the VMM‐based ceramic. These findings underscore the scalability, reliability, and superior performance of VMM formulations for LCD 3D printing, offering new possibilities for high‐performance ceramic applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries.