Solid state NMR and TG/MS study on the transformation of methyl groups during pyrolysis of preceramic precursors to SiOC glasses

Abstract

The sol-gel method was used to prepare two different starting gels containing SiCH3-groups for the preparation of SiOC ceramics. To understand the role of Si—H bonds in the incorporation of carbon into the SiOC network, gels prepared from a 1:2 mixture of triethoxysilane and methyldiethoxysilane (THDH2) and solely methyltriethoxysilane (TMe) were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy (TG-MS) in inert atmosphere was performed to attain an insight into the decomposition reactions involved during gel-glass transformation. Samples calcined at different temperatures up to 1000°C were characterized by 29Si and 13C magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy. The presence of SiH groups in the starting gel allows an efficient conversion of Si—CH3 groups into CSi4 sites at lower temperatures. As a result, despite a much lower amount of carbon in the starting THDH2 gel (C/Si = 0.33) compared to the TMe gel (C/Si = 1), the amount of carbon inserted into the SiOC network of both glasses is equivalent, but the TMe sample contains the 10 fold amount of free carbon.