The conversion process from polydimethylsilane to polycarbosilane in the presence of polyborodiphenylsiloxane

Abstract

The pyrolytic reaction of polydimethylsilane to polycarbosilane in the presence of polyborodiphenylsiloxane have been studied by the use of organosilicon intermediates obtained during the initial pyrolytic stage of polydimethylsilane. In this reaction, the cleavage of the framework of Si-Si bonds occurred. Si-CH₂-Si and Si-H bonds were subsequently formed by the rearrangement reaction between radicals formed and Si-CH₃ bonds. The formation of Si-Si bonds by dehydrogenation between Si-H bonds then proceeded simultaneously or stepwise. It is assumed that polyborodiphenylsilane plays a role in accelerating the polycondensation reaction, that is, the propagation reaction occurred by dehydrogenation between the Si-H bonds, but takes no part in the radical rearrangement reaction from Si-Si bonds to Si-CH₂-Si bonds.