Synthesis and properties of zirconium-containing preceramic resin for SiC-ZrC ceramics

Novel polyzirconosilane resin was prepared by Wurtz-Fittig copolymerization of amine stablized zirconium chloride, methyldichlorosilane and trimethylchlorosilanes, for the application of single source precursor of SiC-ZrC multicomponent ceramic(zirconium content was easily tailored). The polyzirconosilane resin was viscous liquid at ambient conditions, and its rehology was readily tailored catering to the composite process of PIP technique(Precursor-Infiltration-and-Pyrolysis). The polyzirconosilane resin underwent thermal cure at 110~200℃ to form yellowish solid, and the cured polyzirconosilane was transformed to SiC-ZrC monolith at a yield of >60% at 1 000~1 400℃. The polyzirconosilane derived SiC-ZrC exhibits ultra-high thermo-oxidation resistance in air atmophere at high temperatures. The polyzirconosilane preceramic resin would be an ideal candidate for ultra-high temperature ceramics in the applications of oxidation conditions.