Polymer-derived SiCN composites with magnetic properties

Composites consisting of particles of alpha-iron dispersed in silicon carbonitride (SiCN) were fabricated by a polymer route. The composites had iron inclusions with the same magnetization as bulk iron, but they resisted oxidation up to 500 degreesC and had a hardness of 5-7 GPa. The composites behaved as ferromagnets, albeit with a low susceptibility attributed to the pinning of the domains by imperfect interfaces and to the elastic resistance from the SiCN matrix. This low-cost, low-temperature processing method can be used to make different kinds of ceramic composites with multifunctional properties.