The invention relates to the field of ceramics and open-celled silicon carbide
foam ceramics, which can find application, for example, as high temperature- and
thermal shock-resistant silicon carbide foam. The aim of the invention is to disclose
an open-celled silicon carbide foam ceramic with improved thermal shock resistance,
which may be produced by a simple method. Said aim is achieved with an open-celled
silicon carbide foam ceramic, the structure of which is made up of sintered silicon
carbide with a 5 to 30% pore volume of closed pores with an average diameter of
20 m. The invention further relates to a method for the production
of an open-celled silicon carbide foam ceramic, whereby coarse and fine silicon
carbide powder in the ratio 20:80 to 80:20 parts are mixed and a suspension produced
therefrom. An open-celled foam or open-celled network is then coated with said
suspension, the foam or network material removed and sintering carried out at a
temperature of 1800 C. under a protective atmosphere or in vacuo.
