Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
The reaction between furfuryl alcohol (FuOH) and the hydrolysis product of a mixture of Ti(O-n-Bu)4 and Al(O-sec-Bu)3 (AI:Ti=1:1) resulted in the formation of soluble polymeric solids. Pyrolysis of these polymers in argon yielded TiC/A2O3 composite at 1250 °C. When these polymers were pyrolyzed in ammonia, TiN/AI2O3 or TiN/AIN composite was formed. All these composites showed fine microstructure and excellent homogeneity. Furthermore, the structure and pyrolysis chemistry of these polymeric precursors as well as the microstructure of the pyrolysis products were studied by means of FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM, TEM, STEM, Auger, elemental analyses etc.