A Simple Polymeric Precursor Strategy for the Syntheses of Complex Zirconium and Hafnium-Based Ultra High-Temperature Silicon-Carbide Composite Ceramics

Pyrolyses of chemical precursor systems composed of zirconium or hafnium powders dispersed into blends of the polymethyl-carbosilane and poly(norbornenyldecaborane) preceramic polymers provide simple efficient routes to new types of ZrB 2 /ZrC/ SiC and HfB 2 /HfC/SiC composites. Further extensions of this method should now allow the syntheses of a wide variety of complex potential ultra high-temperature zirconium- and hafnium-based composite materials with controllable tuning of their compositions, microstructures, and/or stabilities.