Abstract:

Silicon carbide(SiC) fibers were directly synthesized by chemical vapor growth(CVG). Methyltrichlorosilane(MTS) was selected as the SiC gaseous source and, ferrocence and thiophene as the catalyst and the cocatalyst, respectively. The influences of pyrolysis temperature, the contents of catalyst and the cocatalyst, and the molar ratio of H₂ to MTS on the morphologies of the pyrolysis products were investigated, respectively. The products were identified by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) coupled with energydispersive X-ray(EDX), respectively. The results show that, the products are composed of β-SiC. The growing of SiC fibers suggests a conditions-dependent process. SiC fibers with different diameters(20 nm--1.5 μm) and length(10 μm to several micrometers), therefore, can be synthesized directly by CVG under various conditions without the help of laser, high or reduced pressure.

Key words: Silicon carbide(SiC) fiber, Chemical vapor growth(CVG), Characterization