In the present work, bulk multicomponent nitride/carbide-based ceramics and ceramic nanocomposites were successfully fabricated via a polymer-to-ceramic transformation approach starting from single-source precursors. Commercial (organo)polysilazanes or organopolycarbosilanes were modified with molecular main and transition group element compounds and applied as starting materials. Investigation of the polymer-to-ceramic transformation of the synthesized single-source precursors indicates huge influence of the modified silicon polymers on the obtained ceramic yields, composition and microstructure. Moreover, further detailed studies show that the multicomponent ceramics can resist crystallization at temperatures up to 1500°C and beyond and separate into nanocomposites after annealing at higher temperatures with compositions strongly related to the molecular structure of the modified precursor.
 
In particular, the synthesis of multicomponent ceramics in the systems Si(MM´)CN or Si(MM´)BCN with M,M´ = transition metal (Ti, Hf, Zr, Ta) is reported. These complex compositions are of interest for (ultra)high temperature applications e.g. for the further development of advanced efficient stationary and non-stationary turbines or for devices in the field of aeronautics. Besides the synthesis, the degree of crosslinking of the preceramic polymer precursor is important for the further processing of the polymer-to-ceramic transformation. Parameters like meltability or solubility are essential features for the applicability of the single-source precursor. Finally, the presentation will discuss and evaluate preliminary results regarding the high-temperature behaviour and mechanical properties of the synthesized amorphous multicomponent ceramics and advanced ceramic nanocomposites derived therefrom.
 
References
 
[1]      Wei Li, Hanzi Du, Chuanmu Tian, Tianshu Jiang, Jan Bernauer, Marc Widenmeyer, Leonore Wiehl, Leopoldo Molina-Luna, Jan Philipp Hofmann, Anke Weidenkaff, Zhaoju Yu, and Ralf Riedel, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 2022, e202200203.
[2]      Ying ZHAN, Wei LI, Tianshu JIANG, Claudia FASEL, Emmanuel III RICOHERMOSO, Jan BERNAUER, Zhaoju YU, Zhenghao WU, Florian MÜLLER-PLATHE, Leopoldo MOLINA-LUNA, Ralf GROTTENMÜLLER, Ralf RIEDEL, Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2022, 11(7): 1104–1116.
[3]                         Emanuel Ionescu, Hans-Joachim Kleebe and Ralf Riedel, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2012, 41, 5032-5052.