Appeal No. 1999-0769 Page 5
Application No. 08/661,532
silane” (abstract). Xue describes 3-
glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (Dow Corning Z-6040) as an
epoxysilane which may be used in preparing the epoxy-silane
composites.
All of the process claims on appeal require the step of
subjecting a polysilane containing composition to a pyrolysis
treatment to form a ceramic material.
The dispositive issue raised on this appeal concerning
the method claims before us is whether or not the use of a
polysilane containing feed material for the pyrolysis step of
Xue would have been taught or suggested by Xue’s disclosure.
According to the examiner, Xue teaches that Dow Corning
Z-6040, a silane, “can readily participate in the curing
process and become part of the macromolecular network of the
hardened plastic. Hence it is clear that the authors are
indeed contemplating and using a silane polymer” (answer, page
4). Appellants, on the other hand, submit that the silane
monomer (Dow Corning Z-6040) of Xue would form polysiloxane
(Si-O-Si linkages) upon polymerization, not a polysilane which
is required to have Si-Si linkages. Consequently, appellants
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