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U.S. Department of Energy
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Low temperature processing of reaction sintered silicon nitride

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5709700
The reaction sintering process offers significant advantages for fabrication of silicon nitride matrix composites. It is a near-net-shape process, making it suitable for large and complex bodies, and its lower processing temperature, as compared to hot-pressing or sintering, is more conducive to fiber stability. Successful composites with silicon carbide reinforcement have used either randomly dispersed whiskers or oriented monofilaments. Complete nitridation of conventional silicon powders requires a long period (several days) at temperatures approaching the melting point of silicon (1410/degree/C). Some results with ultrafine silicon powder indicate full conversion in a short time at dramatically lower temperatures. This report describes our efforts to develop an improved silicon powder for nitriding and optimized processing for this material. 7 refs., 15 figs., 3 tabs.
Research Organization:
Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta, GA (USA). Research Inst.
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5709700
Report Number(s):
ORNL/Sub-87-00184/01; ON: DE89017455
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English