Polymer derived ceramics have been widely being explored as high

temperature structural components in aerospace as rocket nozzles, nose tip

and leading edges of reusable launch vehicles. Polycarbosilane (PCS) was
modified by a condensation reaction with zirconium acetylacetonate
[Zr(acac)4] to form polyzirconocarbosilane (PZrCS). A series of PZrCS were
synthesized, which could be transformed into SiZrC ceramic phases on
pyrolysis. The ceramic yield of PCS was significantly improved by the
introduction of zirconium into the system. The XRD patterns of the PZrCs
show the characteristic peaks of SiC at 1300 C and at 1500 C the
characteristic peaks of ZrC and ZrO 2 were observed. The carbothermal
reaction in PZrCS was completed at 1650 C and the resulting ceramic was
non-oxide SiC/ZrC phase. The SEM images proved that the increase in
concentration of zirconium in the final ceramic decreases the surface
uniformity. HRTEM analysis of PZrCS heat treated at 1650 C shows the
evolution of oxide free ZrC/SiC phase with compatible grain boundaries
without stacking fault. It could be concluded that the technique of
introducing ultra-high temperature ceramic phases into the SiC matrix is an
effective approach to improve the high-temperature performance of silicon
based ceramics.