Journal Home > Volume 4 , Issue 4

The polycarbosilane (PCS) precursor for SiC with high molecular weight and medium molecular weight distribution was synthesized from polydimethylsilane at normal pressure. The chemical formula, the number average molecular weight, and the polydispersivity index of the synthesized PCS are SiC1.94H5.01O0.028, 1135, and 1.66, respectively, which can be attributed to the higher reaction temperature used for polymerization. The polymer to ceramic conversion of PCS was completed at 900℃ with a ceramic yield of 85%. The crystallization started at 1100℃, and at 1200℃, well resolved peaks of β-SiC were formed with small amount of α-cristobalite. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies indicated the presence of nanocrystalline β-SiC.


menu
Abstract
Full text
Outline
About this article

Synthesis and characterization of high ceramic yield polycarbosilane precursor for SiC

Show Author's information Mangesh LODHEa( )Narendra BABUaA. SELVAMbM. BALASUBRAMANIANa
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
FRP Institute, Chennai 600032, India

Abstract

The polycarbosilane (PCS) precursor for SiC with high molecular weight and medium molecular weight distribution was synthesized from polydimethylsilane at normal pressure. The chemical formula, the number average molecular weight, and the polydispersivity index of the synthesized PCS are SiC1.94H5.01O0.028, 1135, and 1.66, respectively, which can be attributed to the higher reaction temperature used for polymerization. The polymer to ceramic conversion of PCS was completed at 900℃ with a ceramic yield of 85%. The crystallization started at 1100℃, and at 1200℃, well resolved peaks of β-SiC were formed with small amount of α-cristobalite. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies indicated the presence of nanocrystalline β-SiC.

Keywords: synthesis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), polycarbosilane (PCS), polymer–ceramic conversion

References(13)

[1]
Herzog A, Thünemann M, Vogt U, et al. Novel application of ceramic precursors for the fabrication of composites. J Eur Ceram Soc 2005, 25: 187-192.
[2]
Miele P, Bernard S, Cornu D, et al. Recent developments in polymer-derived ceramic fibers (PDCFs): Preparation, properties and applications—A review. Soft Mater 2007, 4: 249-286.
[3]
Miller RD, Michl J. Polysilane high polymers. Chem Rev 1989, 89: 1359-1410.
[4]
Birot M, Pillot J-P, Dunogues J. Comprehensive chemistry of polycarbosilanes, polysilazanes, and polycarbosilazanes as precursors of ceramics. Chem Rev 1995, 95: 1443-1477.
[5]
Yajima S, Omori M, Hayashi J, et al. Simple synthesis of continuous SiC fiber with high tensile strength. Chem Lett 1976, 5: 551-554.
[6]
Chen J, He G, Liao Z, et al. Control of structure formation of polycarbosilane synthesized from polydimethylsilane by Kumada rearrangement. J Appl Polym Sci 2008, 108: 3114-3121.
[7]
Yajima S, Hasegawa Y, Hayashi J, et al. Synthesis of continuous silicon carbide fibre with high tensile strength and high Young’s modulus. J Mater Sci 1978, 13: 2569-2576.
[8]
Cheng X, Xie Z, Song Y, et al. Structure and properties of polycarbosilane synthesized from polydimethylsilane under high pressure. J Appl Polym Sci 2006, 99: 1188-1194.
[9]
Ly HQ, Taylor R, Day R, et al. Conversion of polycarbosilane (PCS) to SiC-based ceramic. Part 1. Characterisation of PCS and curing products. J Mater Sci 2001, 36: 4037-4043.
[10]
Cheng X, Xie Z, Xiao J, et al. Influence of temperature on the properties of polycarbosilane. J Inorg Organomet Polym Mater 2005, 15: 253-259.
[11]
Yive NSCK, Corriu RJP, Leclercq D, et al. Silicon carbonitride from polymeric precursors: Thermal cross-linking and pyrolysis of oligosilazane model compounds. Chem Mater 1992, 4: 141-146.
[12]
Li H, Zhang L, Cheng L, et al. Polymer–ceramic conversion of a highly branched liquid polycarbosilane for SiC-based ceramics. J Mater Sci 2008, 43: 2806-2811.
[13]
Hasegawa Y, Iimura M, Yajima S. Synthesis of continuous silicon carbide fibre. J Mater Sci 1980, 15: 720-728.
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Rights and permissions

Publication history

Received: 10 June 2015
Revised: 22 July 2015
Accepted: 24 July 2015
Published: 24 November 2015
Issue date: April 2015

Copyright

© The author(s) 2015

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mr. Shrikant for his help in carrying out the experiments. We further acknowledge to Mr. Niraj for valuable technical help in manuscript preparation.

Rights and permissions

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.

Return