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A series of silsesquioxane copolymers synthesized by hydrolysis and condensation of phenyl- and methyltrimethoxysilanes have been studied as preceramic polymers. The pyrolytic conversion to ceramics was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, 29Si and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy. The pyrolysed materials were further characterized by differential thermal analysis. X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The ratio of phenyl to methyl groups in the copolymer was found to control polymer structure and rheology, as well as ceramic composition and char yield. On pyrolysis to 1000 °C under inert conditions, silicon oxycarbides were formed, along with glassy carbon. On heating from 1200 °C to 1400 °C, the oxycarbide structure diminished, and the materials were comprised primarily of amorphous silica, amorphous Si-C, some small crystallite SiC and graphitic carbon. The carbon content increased, and char yield decreased, with increasing concentration of phenyl groups in the copolymer. The presence of free carbon appears to inhibit the crystallization of silica. Significant carbothermal reduction was observed only above 1500 °C. Oxidation studies of the pyrolysed materials indicated the presence of at least two forms of carbon.

Poly(methylsilane) and poly(vinylsilane) were synthesized using a titanocene catalyst, and their pyrolytic conversion to ceramics was followed using a combination of thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The two polymers have distinctly different backbone structures, as determined by29Si NMR; methylsilane polymerizes to a polysilane, while vinylsilane polymers have a predominately polycarbosilane backbone, with some polysilane structure as well. The pyrolysis path and char yield were dependent primarily on backbone structure, with little influence of polymer molecular weight. The majority of the weight loss on conversion occurs below 650 °C, although bond rearrangement continues to 1400 °C. Poly(vinylsilane) produced a carbon-rich Si-C ceramic in which the carbon was dispersed on a sufficiently fine level to show resistance to oxidation on heating in air to 1400 °C. Copolymerization of methyl- and vinylsilane produced stoichiometric SiC; however, polymers of methylsilane were sensitive to oxygen incorporation and sometimes pyrophoric. Polymerization of vinylsilane with disilylethane permitted control of rheology and imparted thermoset behaviour.