Silica gel-phenolic resin hybrid fibres: new precursors for continuous β-silicon carbide fibres

Abstract

Silica gel-phenolic resin hybrid fibres have been synthesized by hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane [Si(OC2H5)4, TEOS] in the presence of phenolic resins in ethanol under acidic conditions. The fibres had C : Si atomic ratios of 2.6–5.4 and could be converted into β-silicon carbide (SiC) fibres by carbothermal reduction at 1500 °C under an argon atmosphere.