Polymer‐Derived SiOC/ZrO ₂ Ceramic Nanocomposites with Excellent High‐Temperature Stability

Abstract

Polymer‐derived SiOC/ZrO 2 ceramic nanocomposites have been prepared using two synthetic approaches. A commercially available polymethylsilsesquioxane (MK Belsil PMS) was filled with nanocrystalline zirconia particles in the first approach. The second method involved the addition of zirconium tetra( n ‐propoxide), Zr(O n Pr) 4 , as zirconia precursor to polysilsesquioxane. The prepared materials have been subsequently cross‐linked and pyrolyzed at 1100°C in argon atmosphere to provide SiOC/ZrO 2 ceramics. The obtained SiOC/ZrO 2 materials were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy as well as transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, annealing experiments at temperatures from 1300° to 1600°C have been performed. The annealing experiments revealed that the incorporation of ZrO 2 into the SiOC matrix remarkably increases the thermal stability of the composites with respect to crystallization and decomposition at temperatures exceeding 1300°C. The results obtained within this study emphasize the enormous potential of polymer‐derived SiOC/ZrO 2 composites for high‐temperature applications.