Synthesis of Polycrystalline Silicon Carbide by a Liquid-Phase Process

Communication: Silicon carbide is an important non-oxide ceramic; however, production methods have until now remained difficult and/or expensive. In this communication is reported the production of silicon carbide via thermal decomposition from the novel Si-carbodiimide polymer poly-(methylsilasesquicarbodiimide), PSMC, which is prepared in a quantitative and economical solution reaction. A mechanism for the polymer-to-ceramic conversion is proposed. The possibility of fabricating continuous fibers of amorphous SiCN or polycrystalline SiC by gelling PSMC is suggested.