Manufacturing, microstructure and properties of novel reaction bonded Mo2C
materials derived from polymer/reactive filler mixtures were investigated.
Mo powder was used as a filler to react with carbon bearing decomposition p
roducts of poly(methyl- and phenysiloxanes) during pyrolysis in nitrogen at
mosphere. Microcrystalline composites with the filler reaction products Mo3
C, Mo,Si, Mo,Si, embedded in a silicon oxycarbide glass matrix could be for
med with complex geometry owing to near net shape polymer/ceramic conversio
n. Depending on the precursor composition and pyrolysis conditions, ceramic
hard materials with a density up to 97% theoretical density, a hardness of
10 GPa, a Young's Modulus of 250 GPa, a fracture toughness of 5 MPam(1/2)
and a flexural strength of 330 MPa were obtained. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science
S.A. All rights reserved.