PRECERAMIC ORGANOBORON-SILICON POLYMERS

Several boron-containing organosilicon polymers were synthesized from a sodium-coupling reaction of silicon and boron halides with and without alkyl halide in hydrocarbon solvents. The B-Si preceramic polymers were characterized using techniques such as IR, UV, and NMR spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, molecular weight measurement, and thermal analyses (TGA, DSC, DTA, and TMA). The chemical structures of the preceramic polymers were postulated based on the analytical results. Black ceramic materials were obtained from the precursor polymers upon thermal degradation at temperatures above 1000-degrees-C in an inert atmosphere. The precursor polymers had a ceramic yield of up to 70%. Thermogravimetric analysis of the ceramic material in air at a flow rate of 100 mL/min showed it was stable up to 1000-degrees-C with little weight gain or loss. Several methods were used to characterize the ceramic materials: XRD, solid NMR, high-temperature DTA, elemental analysis, and acid digestion. The analyses indicated that the ceramic materials comprised a mixture of silicon carbide (SiC), silicon borides (SiB4, SiB6), and amorphous Si-B-C ceramics, with small amounts of silica and free silicon.