PREPARATION OF A MAGADIITE-POLYACRYLONITRILE INTERCALATION COMPOUND AND ITS CONVERSION TO SILICON CARBIDE.

A magadiite (layered polysilicate)-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) intercalation compound was first prepared to investigate its potential as a precursor for the synthesis of non-oxide ceramics by carbothermal reduction. Acrylonitrile monomer was intercalated and polymerized in the interlayer space of a C//1//2H//2//5N(CH//3)//3** plus -magadiite complex. After the cyclization of PAN by the heat treatment in air, the compound was heated in Ar flow for 2 h. Above 1300 degree C, beta -SiC was formed without the formation of any crystalline SiO//2 phases.