Compatibilisation of polyimide-silica ceramers and interfacial interactions with carbon fibres in high-temperature matrix composites

When the inorganic domain sizes in a composite are reduced to a level such that a "molecular composite" is formed, the hybrid materials are commonly referred to as "ceramers". Hybrid materials span from inorganically modified organic polymers to inorganic g1asses slightly modified by organic polymers. The incorporation of an inorganic phase into an organic polymer is done almost exclusively by the "sol-gel" process. [Continues.]