Process and Catalysts for Producing Polycarbosilanes for the Production of Silicon Carbide Fibers and Composites

Abstract

A method for forming polycarbosilanes used as precursors for producing silicon carbide fibers or composites includes providing poly(dimethylsilane) (PDMS) as a solid, providing a catalyst, which includes phenylboronic acid or boric acid, and reacting the solid PDMS with the catalyst at a temperature of about 340° C. for a sufficient period of time to form the polycarbosilanes. Alternatively, the method may include providing a liquid silane formed from PDMS and heating the liquid silane and the catalyst at a temperature ranging from about 100° C. to about 200° C. for about 1 to about 2 hours. After heating, reacting the liquid silane with the catalyst at a temperature ranging from about 220° C. to about 340° C. for a sufficient period of time to form the polycarbosilanes. The ceramic yield for the synthesized polycarbosilanes is in the range between about 60% to about 74% under inert gas upon heating to 1000° C.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.