Synthesis and characterization of a novel precursor-derived ZrC/ZrB2 ultra-high-temperature ceramic composite

ZrC and ZrB2, two valuable members of ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs), are potentially useful as structural materials in aerospace engineering and hypersonic flight vehicles. This work focused on the preparation of ZrC/ZrB2 UHTC composite by employing a precursor-derived method. The precursor polymer PZCB was synthesized by the reaction between Cp2Zr(CH-CH2)2 and borane. The composition, structure, element distribution and pyrolysis process of PZCB were investigated by NMR, IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and TGA. The ceramic yield was 50% and the obtained well-distributed ZrC/ZrB2 ceramic composites had very good high-temperature resistance. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.