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Effect of hydrogen on the microstructure of silicon carbide

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5771080
The effect of hydrogenation on the microstructure of a pressureless sintered silicon carbide was studied. Samples which were annealed in a 40:60 mole % H/sub 2/:Ar atmosphere at 1400/sup 0/C for 50 hours were microstructurally compared with unannealed samples and samples that had been annealed in a similar manner but using an argon atmosphere. The results were also compared with microstructural results obtained from in situ studies using both hydrogen and argon atmospheres. These results were compared with a thermodynamic model which was constructed using a free energy minimization technique. The observed effects of hydrogenation were surface decarburization and amorphization throughout the silicon carbide material. Other observations include the thermally induced growth of microcrystalline silicon and accelerated amorphization around the silicon microcrystals in samples used in hydrogen in situ studies. An analysis of the microstructure of the reference material was also performed.
Research Organization:
Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA). Dept. of Ceramic Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76ER01198
OSTI ID:
5771080
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/01198-T8; ON: DE85010229
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English