Irradiation pre-curing plus oxidation curing for rapid preparation of silicon carbide fibers

Preparation of silicon carbide fibers using irradiation pre-curing and oxidation curing was demonstrated. Polycarbosilane (PCS) wit low melting point and excellent spinning ability was used as the precursor. The precursor fibers were irradiation pre-cured at low dosage to increase its melting point and then oxidation-cured. The process reduced the difficulties in melt-spinning and curing without increasing the processing costs. The PCS precursor with molecular weight of 1210 and melting point of 196°C was synthesized according to a method presented by Yajima and co-workers. It was placed in a reservoir of a laboratory piston-type melt-spinning machine and heated to the melt-spinning temperature in the presence of high-purity of N₂ to prevent it from oxidation. It was observed that tensile strength of the ceramic fibers prepared from the pre-cured fibers was higher than that from the directly oxidation cured fibers.