Materials science, an interdisciplinary field of R & D, certainly benefits from the cooperation of engineers, chemists andphysicists. An example is in the synthesis and applications development of organometallic polymers. Their structures are being optimized through employing different monomers, polymer blending, and post-treatments to render them suitable as precursors for non-oxide advanced ceramics like S i c , Si,N,, AlN, BN or TiN. Pyrolysis transforms these polymers into the ceramic state. Since these inorganic polymers have unique processing advantages (solubility and fusibility) over classical ceramic powder or metallurgical processing, a vast array of novel applications, e.g., ceramic coatings, binders, impregnations or spun fibers are possible. -[*] Dr. M. Peuckert, Dr. T. Vadhs, M. Briick, Materialforschung, Hoechst AG Postfxh 80 03 20, D-6230 Frankfurt am Main 80 (FRG) [**I The authors wish to thank b: Aldinger, P. I.ble.v, H.-L Kkiner, K. Kiihlein and G. Siegemund for many interesting discussions and continuous support ofthe work. For the NMR measurements we owe thanks to H. K/uge.Silicon Carbide Pol ysilazanes Processing ( 0 VCH Verluggr~sells~hufi mhH, D-6940 Weinheim, 1990 0935-964H~90j0909-0398 $3.50 t .25/0 Adv. M a w . 2 (1990) No. 9