Top-Down Gel-Casting of ZrB2-ZrC Composites Enabled by Solvent-Mediated PGMA-Cp2ZrCl2 Crosslinking

About the Event

Ultra-high-temperature ceramics are attractive for severe environments, but fabricating complex shapes often requires binders that can degrade performance. We present a solvent-triggered metallopolymer binder approach that couples shaping with programmable ceramic conversion. An epoxide-bearing polymer reacts with an organometallic precursor to yield either pendant metal functionality or a rapidly curing network, allowing tuning of rheology and cure under processing-relevant conditions. The chemistry remains effective in particle-rich slurries, enabling gel casting of boride-based feeds into self-supporting green bodies with high fidelity. Heat treatment converts binder-derived species into carbide-rich phases and interfacial features, showing the binder as an active processing component.

About the Speaker

Brendan Whitfield is a Ph.D. Candidate in Chemistry at Virginia Tech with expertise at the intersection of organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and inorganic–polymer hybrid materials. His research spans controlled radical polymerizations (RAFT, ATRP), post-polymer functionalization, metallopolymer design, and polymer-derived materials. He develops ultra-high-temperature ceramic nanocomposites, carbon fiber materials, and functional polymer aerogels for demanding aerospace, energy, and environmental applications. He is passionate about bridging molecular-level control with real-world materials performance and is actively preparing for R&D roles in advanced materials, aerospace & defense, and energy storage.