Effect of Heating Rate on the One‐Pot Synthesis of ZrB 2 –ZrC–SiC Ceramics by PDC Route

ABSTRACT Zirconoborosiloxane (ZBS), a preceramic oligomer, was synthesized by a nonaqueous sol–gel route in our earlier work, which yields ceramics of m‐ZrO 2 , ZrSiO 4 , and t‐ZrO 2 upon pyrolysis at 1500°C and 1650°C in argon. In the present study, a single system comprised of ZrB 2, ZrC, and SiC ceramics was obtained by a one‐pot synthesis route blending ZBS and divinylbenzene (DVB) followed by pyrolysis at 1500°C and 1650°C in argon. The effect of heating rate on the evolution of various ceramic phases was studied by adopting three different heating rates, i.e., 1, 3, and 5°C/min. On the basis of the ceramic phases desired in the final ceramic, process parameters can be tuned. The shortlisted composition of ZBS and DVB, along with the optimized process parameters, is proposed as a matrix resin for the fabrication of continuous C f /ZrB 2 –ZrC–SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) by the polymer infiltration & pyrolysis (PIP) process.