A New Technique for Coating Silicon Carbide Onto Carbon Nanotubes Using a Polycarbosilane Precursor

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been coated with silicon carbide (SiC) using polycarbosilane as precursor in order to improve their thermo oxidative stability. The polycarbosilane coated MWCNTs were heated to ~1300°C under an inert atmosphere to generate the SiC coating. X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy have confirmed the formation of SiC on the MWCNTs. The retention of the tubular structure of the MWCNTs has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis has been performed to evaluate the thermo oxidative stabilities of coated and virgin MWCNTs. Sonication studies have shown that the mechanical strength of the MWCNTs was increased after coating with SiC.