Organometallic Routes to High-Performance Ceramics

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This project is in the area of the Materials Chemistry Initiative. An integrated, interdisciplinary research program will be pursued involving: (1) the synthesis of molecular and polymeric precursors to silicon nitride and carbide, (2) the application of these precursors to the preparation of ceramic materials, and (3) the analysis of the microstructure and properties of the ceramic end products to determine the dependence on processing variables. Various routes to organosilicon ring systems and ring-chain polymers will be investigated in pursuit of precursors to Silicon nitride and Silicon Carbide. The pyrolysis chemistry of these compounds will be studied to establish design parameters for the preparation of precursors which will yield the ceramic end product in the desired final form in high yield and purity. This will include the use of volatile compounds for chemical vapor deposition as well as oligomers and polymers of low volatility for the preparation of high purity powders of controlled morphology, as sintering aids and for direct pyrolysis to monolithic ceramics.