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U.S. Department of Energy
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Processing and testing of high toughness silicon nitride ceramics

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5360352

High toughness silicon nitride ceramics were processed with the addition of small quantities of beta-Si3N4 whiskers in a commercially available alpha-Si3N4 powder. These whiskers grew preferentially during sintering resulting in large, elongated beta-grains, which acted to toughen the matrix by crack deflection and grain pullout. The fracture toughness of these samples seeded with beta-Si3N4 whiskers ranged from 8.7 to 9.5 MPa m(exp 0.5) depending on the sintering additives.

Research Organization:
Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
OSTI ID:
5360352
Report Number(s):
N-94-14543; NASA-CR--191190; E--8120; NAS--1.26:191190; CONF-931142--; CNN: NAS3-133; RTOP 505-63-5A
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English