The pyrolysis of organoelemental polymerss provides a powerful route to high‐ppurity, high‐performance ceramics. The various factors influencing the production of low‐oxygen‐content ceramic fibers from polymeric silazanes are examined and the possibility of controlling the composition of the fibers by varying the pyrolysis atmosphere resulting in stable, amorphous phases is described. The fibers have great potential in the reinforcement of metal and ceramic matrix composites.

Non‐oxide ceramics, for example aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride, are ideal materials for applications under high thermal and mechanical stress. The synthetic methods including liquid‐phase sintering processes, the microstructures of the resulting materials (figure shows Si3N4 from powder produced using the diimide route), and some aspects of the characteization and application of the materials are discussed. magnified image

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