Fabrication of novel SiCN@ZrO2 core-shell ceramic microspheres by using a polymeric precursor

A novel type of PVSZ@ZrO2 core-shell ceramic microspheres were fabricated via emulsion technique, using polyvinylsilazane (PVSZ) and zirconium tetrabutoxide (ZBT) as raw materials. The PVSZ@ZrO2 core-shell microspheres were then converted to SiCN@ZrO2 ceramic microspheres through pyrolysis at 500–1400°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The size and the surface morphology of the obtained PVSZ@ZrO2 core-shell microspheres and SiCN@ZrO2 ceramic microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The resultant SiCN@ZrO2 core-shell ceramic microspheres are composed of ZrO2, β-SiC and Si3N4 crystalline phases, with an average size of 0.75 μm.