Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Effect of high temperature hydrogenation on the fracture strength of a sintered alpha silicon carbide

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6067943

The effect of high temperature hydrogenation on the strength of a pressureless sintered alpha silicon carbide was studied as a function of time. Samples were soaked in argon or a hydrogen-argon mixture (40:60, mole %) at 1400/sup 0/C for times of up to 50 hours. The samples were then broken in four point flexure at room temperature. It was found that the hydrogen attacked the material at grain boundaries, leaving loose SiC grains on the surface. Fifty hours in a hydrogenous atmosphere at 1400/sup 0/C caused an average 26% strength decrease. Surface degradation was evaluated using optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Research Organization:
Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA). Dept. of Ceramic Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76ER01198
OSTI ID:
6067943
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/01198-T7; ON: DE85006813
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English