Synthesis and pyrolysis mechanism of a novel polymeric precursor for SiBN ternary ceramic fibers

A novel polymeric precursor polyborosilazane (PBSZ) for SiBN ternary ceramic fibers was successfully synthesized from trichlorosilane (HSiCl3), boron trichloride (BCl3) and hexamethyldisilazane (HDMZ) by a simple one step reaction process. The chemical structures and ceramic yield of the PBSZ precursors were investigated by NMR spectroscopy, FT-IR and TGA. The preparation of PBSZ fibers was conducted in a lab-scale melt-spinning equipment at a spinning speed of 130 m/min. SiBN ternary ceramic fibers were obtained after the non-fusible treatment and pyrolysis of PBSZ fibers in an NH3 atmosphere. The pyrolysis mechanism, high-temperature behavior and morphologies of the SiBN ternary ceramic fibers were investigated by NMR, XRD, TEM and SEM. The obtained SiBN ternary ceramic fibers had good flexibility, and possessed a tensile strength of 0.84 GPa with a diameter of 18 pm. Furthermore, these SiBN ceramic fibers exhibited excellent thermal stability, and maintained the amorphous state up to 1600 degrees C.