Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
Metallasiloxanes of the type, M (OSiR3)4, which contain zirconium and hafnium can be prepared by the facile silanol-induced cleavage of organometallic compounds. The metallasiloxanes vary from mobile liquids to insoluble nonmelting powders depending upon the constituents bonded to the silicon. The compounds can be fired into inorganic refractory oxides at temperatures varying from 350–600 °C. The resulting materials have the general formula M Si4O10. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) data suggest that the M-O–Si linkage remains intact during this process. Thus the M Si4O10 material can be considered a mixed oxide alloy rather than a simple mixture of the oxides M O2 and SiO2.