Composition and morphology control in ordered mesostructured high-temperature ceramics from block copolymer mesophases

The co-assembly between a polyisoprene-block-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) block copolymer and poly(ureamethylvinyl)silazane is investigated. The hybrid morphology can be controlled by systematically increasing the inorganic-to- organic ratio or by changing the molecular weight of the block copolymer. Temperature treatment up to 1500 degrees C of the hybrids resulted in mesoporous, ordered non-oxidetype ceramics. The results suggest that careful control of co-assembly processes enables access to nanostructured high-temperature ceramics that may have novel mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties.