High Temperature Stability of Sol-Gel-Derived SiOC Glasses

The high temperature stability of sol-gel-derived SiOC glasses has been investigated in order to understand the role played by the presence of a free-carbon phase in the amorphous oxycarbide network. Therefore, pure and excess free-carbon containing SiOC glasses have been prepared from hybrid gels and used for the high temperature stability experiments. Moreover, the possible effects of the sample size with respect to local kinetics and thermodynamics and of the testing environment have also been investigated. Results show that all these parameters play a crucial role in defining the high temperature behavior of SiOC glasses.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Silazane-Based Polymers as Precursors for Ceramic Matrix Composites

The goal of this investigation was to optimize the synthesis of silazane-based polymers for processing fibre-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). Liquid oligomeric silazanes were synthesized by ammonolysis of chlorosilanes and characterized spectroscopi- cally (FTIR, NMR) as well as by elemental analysis. The silazanes were obtained in high yield and purity. Different functional groups (system S1: Si—H, Si—CH₃, Si—CH=CH₂) and different degrees of branching in the Si—N backbone [system S2; Si(NH)₃, Si(NH)₂] were realized in order to study the properties of the silazanes that are dependent on the molecular structure. For processing ceramics via pyrolysis of pre-ceramic oligomers, molecular weight, rheological behaviour, thermosetting and ceramic yield were investigated systematically and correlated with the molecular structure of the silazanes. Low molecular weights (500–1000 g mol⁻¹) as well as low viscosity values (0.1–20 Pa s) enable processing of the silazanes in the liquid phase without any solvent. Due to the latent reactivity of the functional groups, curing of the polymers via hydrosilylation is achieved. Structural changes and weight loss during polymer curing as well as the organic/inorganic transition were monitored by FTIR spectroscopy and differential thermogravimetric analysis. With increasing temperature (room temperature to 800 °C) the hydrogen content decreases from 7 to < 0.5 wt% due to the formation of gaseous molecules (NH₃, CH₄, H₂). High ceramic yields up to 80% were reached by branching the oligomers, thus reducing the amount of volatile precursor fragments. Up to 1300 °C, ceramic materials remained amorphous to X-rays. At higher temperatures (1400–1800 °C) either SiC or SiC/Si₃N₄ composites were selectively crystallized, depending on the pyrolysis conditions. The utility of the optimized precursors for CMCs has been demonstrated by infiltration of fibre preforms and subsequent pyrolysis. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.