A POLYSILAZANE PRECURSOR FOR SI-C-N-O MATRIX COMPOSITES

This paper reports the ability to use a commercial polysilazane as matrix precusor for the manufacture of ceramic matrix composites. By pyrolysis under nitrogen in the temperature range 1000-1400 degrees C this polysilazane leads to an amorphous silicon carbonitride with a ceramic yield around 65 wt%. The rheological behaviour and the thermal decomposition of the polysilazane have been studied. Parameters for the impregnation and pyrolysis cycles required by the manufacture of composites are also proposed.