Microstructure of Spark Plasma-Sintered Silicon Nitride Ceramics.

The microstructure and phase composition of the high-content Al2O3-Y2O3-doped spark plasma-sintered silicon nitride were investigated. Fully dense silicon nitride ceramics with a typical α-Si3N4 equiaxed structure with average grain size from 200 to 530 nm, high elastic modulus of 288 GPa, and high hardness of 2038 HV were spark plasma sintered (SPSed) at 1550 °C. Silicon nitride with elongated ß-Si3N4 grains, higher hardness of 1800 HV, density of 3.25 g/cm3, and Young's modulus 300 GPa SPSed at 1650 °C was also reviewed.

Microstructure and Phase Composition of Cold Isostatically Pressed and Pressureless Sintered Silicon Nitride.

The microstructure and physical properties of new Y2O3 and Al2O3 oxide-doped silicon nitride ceramics fabricated by cold isostatic pressing and free sintering were investigated. The phase composition of produced material was also studied by X-ray diffraction at room and elevated temperature. The fabricated ceramics featured a microstructure of Si5AlON7 grains with a fine-grained α-Si3N4 with a small amount of Y2SiAlON5. Described ceramics is attractive for many high-temperature structural applications due to beneficial combination of fine-grained structure with improved mechanical properties and small weight loss.