| abstract |
A reinforcing inorganic fiber comprising an internal portion and a surface portion wherein: the internal portion comprises an inorganic material containing silicon, either titanium or zirconium, carbide and oxygen which is: (i) an amorphous material substantially consisting of Si, M, C and O; (ii) an aggregate substantially consisting of ultrafine crystalline particles, having a diameter of not more than 50 nm, of beta -SiC, MC, a solid solution of beta -SiC and MC and MCl-x, wherein M represents titanium or zirconium and 0<x<1; or (iii) a mixture of the amorphous material (i) and the aggregate (ii); and the surface portion comprises an inorganic material consisting of silicon, either titanium or zirconium, oxygen and optionally not more than 5% by weight of carbon which is: (iv) an amorphous material consisting substantially of Si, M and O, wherein M represents titanium or zirconium; (v) an aggregate composed of crystalline SiO2 and MO2, wherein M represents titanium or zirconium; or (vi) a mixture of the amorphous material (iv) and the aggregate (v). |