Abstract: SiC based reticulated porous ceramics (RPCs) were fabricated from ceramic slurries by the replication
process with polyurethane sponges as the templates. Effect of degassing on the rheological behavior of the slurry and mechanical property of RPCs
was investigated in detail. The rheological behavior of the slurry was improved by degassing, which improved the loading of the slurry on the sponge and
large-scale uniformity of RPCs. The number of pores of approximately 100μm in the struts was reduced significantly by degassing, which
was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation and Hg porosimetry. Flexural strength of RPCs increases from 2.34 to 3.18MPa
after degassing. Improvement in the strength of RPCs by degassing is mainly due to the improvement of the strut strength, resulting from the
significant decrease of the large defects in the struts. In addition, a slight increase in the relative density has a contribution to the
increase of the strength. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical model of the mechanical behavior of open cell ceramics.

Key words: reticulated porous ceramics, mechanical strength, degassing, silicon carbide, slurry