Abstract
Mixed multielement nanostructured ceramics with improved mechanical and thermal properties themselves as well as in composites form are the futuristic structural materials. These have been synthesized through organic-inorganic hybrid gel route. Though these techniques when applied to mono and difunctional precursors yielded good results, material processing from trifunctional silane and transition metallic alkoxide has not been established enough. These are expected as good anti oxidation materials. Mixed carbides of Si, Zr and Ta have been developed in our laboratory using sol gel method. Metalalkoxides of these metals have been cohydrolysed with addition of a carbonaceous source in appropriate ratios. These modified gels have been heated to 1000°C-1700°C. The transformation taking place, when studied by, XRD, EDAX and SEM showed development of nanostructured ceramics. These materials have further been characterized for thermal stability in oxygen environment and have been found to posess superior properties.
