Key words. Chemical bond state, energy-loss near-edge fine structure, interlayer chemistry, Nicalon fibre-reinforced borosilicate glass.
SummaryMicroanalytical results obtained from two SiC-fibre-reinforced borosilicate glasses with hot-pressing temperatures of about 1373 and 1543 K show that for nanometre-sized regions a detailed phase analysis with respect to the chemical bonding of a certain element is possible by investigating energy-loss near-edge structures (ELNES). Examples are presented of the bonding state of silicon as revealed by analysing the Si-L 23 ELNES, which generally varies from predominantly carbidic in the fibre to oxidic in the matrix. In addition, content and type of silicon-containing phases inside carbon-rich interlayers, usually arising between fibre and matrix owing to chemical reactions, are characterized.