| abstract |
Silicon nitride based ceramic fibres containing Si, N, O and at least one metal M in amounts providing the atomic ratios N/Si of 0.3 to 3, O/Si of 0.001 to 15 and M/Si of 0.001 to 5 and exhibiting an X-ray small angle scattering such that the ratio of the intensity of the small angle scattering of the fibres to that of air is 1 to 20. The ceramic fibres are produced by spinning a polymetallosilazane into fibres and calcining the spun fibres and are useful as reinforcing fibres for composite artices having a metal, a synthetic resin or a ceramic matrix. |