Development of an Automatic Thermal, Electrical, and Mechanical Test Platform for Polymer-Derived Ceramics

Polymer-derived ceramics (PDC), prepared through thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors, are piezo-resistive, high-temperature resistant, and corrosion resistant material. Due to their excellent thermomechanical and electromechanical (piezo-resistive) behavior with very large gauge factors, they have great potential in being used as sensing materials in harsh environment, and thus has received extensive attentions in recent years. A better understanding of their holistic thermomechanical and electromechanical properties is crucial to the improvement of both the material and corresponding sensor designs. However, there has been a lack of customized, low-cost, and automatic machine that allows researchers to study the complex properties of PDCs. In this paper, an automated platform is designed to study the electromechanical and thermomechanical properties of newly developed PDCs. Featured with automatic temperature control and pressure control capabilities, the platform is able to apply load smoothly from 0 N to 220 N, and add heat from 0 to 250°C.