Mechanical properties and microstructure of Si sub 3 N sub 4 - whisker-reinforced Si sub 3 N sub 4 matrix composite

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5123916

Chu, C Y; Singh, J P

Room-temperature elastic modulus, hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}-whisker-reinforced Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} matrix composite with up to 35 vol.% of whisker were measured and correlated with microstructures. Both SEM and TEM were used for structural characterization. The toughness of the composite was observed to increase from 6.5 MPa{radical}m to 8.8 MPa{radical}m with addition of 5 vol.% Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} whisker. This represents a 1.4-fold increase in toughness. Correspondingly, the strength increased from 673 to 802 MPa. The toughness and strength behavior of the composites is believed to be controlled by the whisker strengthening and matrix grain size.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5123916
• Report Number(s): CONF-900160-1; ON: DE90005651
• Resource Relation: Conference: 14. annual conference on composites and advanced ceramics, Cocoa Beach, FL (USA), 14-17 Jan 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
SILICON NITRIDES
FLEXURAL STRENGTH
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
GRAIN SIZE
HARDNESS
MICROSTRUCTURE
WHISKERS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
MATERIALS
MONOCRYSTALS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SIZE
360203* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Mechanical Properties
360603 - Materials- Properties
360202 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Structure & Phase Studies