Study of modification on alumina surface by using of organosilicon polymer

Abstract

This paper describes a novel experiment on surface modification for alumina plates. Polycarbosilane (PCS), an organosilicon polymer, was used in this experiment as a precursor. Tiny cracks on an alumina surface caused by grain boundaries and introduced by rough grinding were filled by PCS, and PCS was transformed into silicon oxycarbide (SiCO, silicon carbide including several mass percents of oxygen) by thermal oxidation curing at 453K and pyrolysis at 1273 K. Moreover, Al6Si2O13 (mullite) layer was made from alumina and SiCO and prevented exfoliation of the alumina and SiCO during pyrolysis. In addition, the wettability between samples and molten aluminum was investigated in order to make sure the effect of surface modification. This experiment confirms that surface modification of alumina with a SiCO membrane can be successfully. © 2011 The Ceramic Society of Japan.