Poly(methylsilyne)

Poly(methylsilyne)
Formula	[MeSi]n
Molecular mass	200,000 to 100 million Daltons
Melting point	decomposes @ 200°C
Boiling point	N/A
Density	??.?? g/cm3
CAS number	???-??-?
SMILES	???????
Chemical structure of poly(methylsilyne)

Poly(methylsilyne) (PMSy) is one of a class of silicon-based random network polymers primarily composed of tetrahedrally hybridized silicon atoms, each having one methyl substituent, exhibiting the generic formula [MeSi]n. PMSy is made from methyltrichlorosilane by means of alkali metal reduction followed by alkylation. At room temperature, poly(methylsilyne) is a dark yellow powder. It can be easily dissolved in a number of solvents (tetrahydrofuran, ether, toluene etc.), forming a colloidal suspension that is clear and non-viscous, which may then be deposited as a film or coating on various substrates. Upon thermolysis in argon at atmospheric pressure to 3 atmospheres and temperatures of 200 °C to 450 °C, decomposition of poly(methylsilyne) results in silicon carbide.

The novelty of PMSy (and its related polymer poly(hydridocarbyne)) is that the polymer may be readily fabricated into various forms (e.g. films, fibers, plates) and then thermolized into a final silicon carbide ceramic.

References

• U.S. Patent 6,989,428 "Methods of preparing polysilynes"