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Dryad

Data from: Tracking copper nanofiller evolution in polysiloxane during processing into SiOC ceramic

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Aug 12, 2024 version files 719.47 KB

Abstract

Polymer-derived ceramics are an interesting class of materials that have application in ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites, functional coatings, catalysis, biomedical devices, and energy storage. By starting as pre-ceramic polymers, they have access to polymer processing routes which allow the formation of complex shapes prior to processing into dense, ceramic materials. However, extreme densitification and volume shrinkage during processing often leads to cracking and void formation. To combat this, nanofillers are often added to the polymer matrix prior to processing, which add an unshrinkable component to the matrix and bolster mechanical properties. Despite their interest for several applications, fundamental research into the structural changes occurring during pyolysis and interactions between nanofiller and matrix occurring on the local scale is lacking. In this work, copper nanofiller is added to pre-ceramic polysiloxane, and the resulting composite is heated to 1000 °C. Total X-ray Scattering is taken at discrete temperatures during processing in an effort to understand average structure changes such as crystalline phase formation (high energy X-ray diffraction), local structure indications of pyrolysis in the matrix (pair distribution function), and local-scale interfacial reactions between nanofiller and matrix (differential-pair distribution functions). The total X-ray scattering data is reported in this Dryad repository.