Si-C fiber prepared from polycarbosilane cured without oxygen

A new curing method for polycarbosilane was developed. In this method, halogenated hydrocarbon or unsaturated hydrocarbon vapor was used as curing agent. Si-C fiber with a small amount of oxygen was prepared from polycarbosilane fiber cured without introducing oxygen. The structure and the properties of the fiber are discussed in comparison with Si-C-O fiber obtained from thermal-oxidized polycarbosilane fiber. Using the new curing method, the thermal stability of the Si-C fiber was far improved with respect to that of conventional Si-C-O fiber.