WE CLAIM
1. A method of crosslinking a silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer,
comprising:
exposing a first portion of silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer provided on a platform to e-beam radiation from an e-beam radiation mechanism;
translating at least one of the platform and the e-beam radiation with respect to the other and exposing a second portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer to e-beam radiation; and
regulating the temperature of the platform to thereby prevent the temperature of the first and second portions of the carbide fiber precursor polymer from reaching their softening point due to the e-beam radiation.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein regulating the temperature of the platform includes regulating the temperature of the platform while the first and second portions of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer are exposed to e-beam radiation and for a time period thereafter.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein regulating the temperature of the platform includes utilizing a heat transfer material to remove heat from the platform to thereby remove heat from the first and second portions of the carbide fiber precursor polymer.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein utilizing a heat transfer material to remove heat from the platform includes directly or indirectly contacting the platform with a flow of heat transfer material.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein exposing a first portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer to e-beam radiation and exposing a second portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer to e-beam radiation includes projecting e-beam radiation at an accumulated dose between 0.2 MGy and 20 MGy.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer is polycarbosilane or polysilazane.
7. A method according to claim 1, further including positioning silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer on a surface of the platform at least two layers thick in the direction of the e-beam radiation intersecting the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein translating at least one of the platform and the e-beam radiation with respect to the other includes rotating the platform about an axis of rotation.
9. A method according to claim 8, further including positioning the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer on a first surface of the platform, and wherein the axis of rotation of the platform is substantially normal to the first surface of the platform.
10. A method according to claim 8, further including positioning the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer on a first surface of the platform, and wherein the first surface extends at least partially about the axis of rotation of the platform.
11. A method according to claim 1, wherein exposing a first portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer to e-beam radiation from an e-beam radiation mechanism includes translating at least one of the platform and the e-beam radiation with respect to the other from a first arrangement in which e-beam radiation emitted from the beam radiation mechanism would not intersect the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer on the platform to a second arrangement in which e-beam radiation emitted from the e-beam radiation mechanism intersects with the first portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer.
12. A method according to claim 1, further including hermetically sealing the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer in a chamber of the platform.
13. An apparatus for crosslinking a silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer with electron beam radiation, comprising:

a platform including a processing surface and a coolant channel; and
multiple layers of silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer positioned on the processing surface of the platform,
wherein the coolant channel is configured to regulate the temperature of the processing surface and thereby the temperature of the multiple layers of silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer positioned thereon during crosslinking through the use of heat transfer fluid.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the multiple layers of silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer are hermetically sealed within a chamber of the platform.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the platform includes a window member that substantially allows electron beam radiation during crosslinking to pass therethrough and into the chamber.
16. An apparatus for crosslinking a silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer, comprising:
a platform including:
a processing surface;
multiple layers of silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer positioned on the processing surface; and
a coolant channel extending through the platform;
an e-beam radiation mechanism configured to project e-beam radiation; and
a translation mechanism configured to translate at least one of the platform and e-beam radiation projected from the e-beam radiation mechanism with respect to the other such that at a first configuration the e-beam radiation mechanism applies a first dose of e-beam radiation to a first portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer, and at a second configuration the e-beam

radiation mechanism applies a first dose of e-beam radiation to a second portion of the silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the multiple layers of silicon carbide fiber precursor polymer are hermetically sealed within a chamber of the platform.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the platform includes a window member that substantially allows e-beam radiation from the e-beam radiation mechanism to pass therethrough and into the chamber, and wherein in the first and second configurations the first doses of e-beam radiation pass through the window member.
19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the platform includes a flow of heat transfer material through the coolant channel, and wherein the flow of heat transfer material through the coolant channel of the platform regulates the temperature of the platform to thereby prevent the temperature of the first and second portions of the carbide fiber precursor polymer from reaching their softening point due to the first doses of e-beam radiation.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first doses of e-beam radiation are between 0.2 MGy and 20 MGy.