Fabrication of novel SiCN@ZrO₂ core-shell ceramic microspheres by using a polymeric precursor

ABSTRACT

A novel type of PVSZ@ZrO₂ core-shell ceramic microspheres were fabricated via emulsion technique, using polyvinylsilazane (PVSZ) and zirconium tetrabutoxide (ZBT) as raw materials. The PVSZ@ZrO₂ core-shell microspheres were then converted to SiCN@ZrO₂ ceramic microspheres through pyrolysis at 500–1400°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The size and the surface morphology of the obtained PVSZ@ZrO₂ core-shell microspheres and SiCN@ZrO₂ ceramic microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The resultant SiCN@ZrO₂ core-shell ceramic microspheres are composed of ZrO₂, β-SiC and Si₃N₄ crystalline phases, with an average size of 0.75 μm.

KEYWORDS:

• Polyvinylsilazane
• zirconium tetrabutoxide
• polymer-derived ceramics
• core-shell ceramic microspheres
• characterization

Funding

Sponsored by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51472175) and the Tianjin Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology (No. 15JCZDJC37200).