NOVEL SILAZANE AND/OR POLYSILAZANE COMPOUNDS AND METHODS OF MAKING

This invention is directed to novel ammonolysis products including novel silazanes and polysilazanes characterized by repeating units of silicon- nitrogen in a polymeric compound having a reduced amount of Si-H bonds relative to the amount of Si-H bonds in the starting compound. Preparation o f these novel ammonolysis products comprises introducing a starting compound containing at least one Si-H bond, such as a halosilane into a stoichiometri c excess of anhydrous liquid ammonia wherein an ammonium halide is generated acting as an acid catalyst to provide an ionic and/or acidic environment for preparing the novel ammonolysis compounds. The prepared novel ammonolysis products are retained in a separated liquid-phase layer and distinct from th e anhydrous liquid ammonia containing the ionized ammonium halide. Also provid ed are methods to purify ammonolysis products and to modify ammonolysis product s by controllably increasing viscosity from a liquid to a solid and viscositie s there between.