Effect of molecular monomer structure on the composition and properties of BN via the preceramic polymer route

Boron nitride (BN) ceramics were prepared via the preceramic polymer route from two (alkylamino)borazine (AAB) monomers. The effect of monomer structure on the chemical composition, microstructure, oxidation resistance and high-temperature stability of BN was investigated. The two ceramics were characterized by elemental analysis (EA), IR, XPS, XRD, HRTEM and TGA. With similar composition, BN derived from symmetric monomer had a higher crystallinity and exhibited better oxidation resistance/high temperature stability. This is due to that the structure of symmetric molecular derived polymeric precursor is close to that of hexagonal BN ( h-BN).