Rhone-poulenc Chimie

Odile Babot

Rene Pailler

Jacques Dunogues

Jean-Paul Pillot

Francoise Duboudin

Marc Birot

Eric Bouillon

Infusible and insoluble polycarbosilanes, readily pyrolyzed into silicon carbide ceramic materials, e.g., SiC fibers, are produced by hardening a fusible polycarbosilane containing at least two .tbd.SiH groups per molecule via intimately contacting such fusible polycarbosilane with an effective hardening amount of the vapors of sulfur.

Production of infusible polycarbosilanes convertible into silicon

Silicon carbonitride ceramic materials are produced by (a) hardening a fusible polycarbosilane containing at least two .tbd.SiH groups per molecule by intimately contacting such fusible polycarbosilane with an effective hardening amount of the vapors of sulfur, next (b) heat treating the infusible polycarbosilane which results under an ammonia atmosphere to such extent as to introduce nitrogen into the infusible polycarbosilane without completely removing the carbon therefrom, and then (c) heat treating the nitrogenated polycarbosilane in a vacuum or in an inert atmosphere to such extent as to essentially completely convert it into a ceramic silicon carbonitride.

Conversion of polycarbosilanes into silicon carbonitride ceramics

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Villenave D'Ornon, France

Odile Babot