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Formation and characteristics of silicon nitride-lithium aluminum silicate ceramics: I. Sintering and microstructure

Journal Article · · Advanced Ceramic Materials; (USA)
; ;  [1]
  1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Metallforschung, Stuttgart (West Germany)

Silicon nitride ceramics with the grain-boundary phase {beta}-eucryptite, LiAlSiO{sub 4}, or {beta}-spodumene, LiAlSi{sub 2}O{sub 6}, were produced by pressureless sintering {alpha}-Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}, SiO{sub 2}, and LiAlO{sub 2} powder mixtures at 1,300{degree} to 1,900{degree}C. The phase relations in the system Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}-LiAlO{sub 2}-SiO{sub 2} were investigated at 1,500{degree}C, showing the presence of an Si-Li-O rich liquid phase. During annealing at 900{degree} to 1,300{degree}C, {beta}-eucryptite precipitated when the sintering temperature was <1,700{degree}C, whereas {beta}-spodumene crystallized when it was >1,700{degree}C. Because of the low thermal expansion of {beta}-LiAlSiO{sub 4} and {beta}-LiAlSi{sub 2}O{sub 6} ({minus}6.3 {times} 10{sup {minus}7}{degree}C{sup {minus}1} and 8.3 {times} 10{sup {minus}7}{degree}C{sup {minus}1}, RT = 1,000{degree}C), thermal-induced misfit stresses will be developed. Because of these stresses, toughening effects can be expected in the composite microstructures.

OSTI ID:
6073860
Journal Information:
Advanced Ceramic Materials; (USA), Journal Name: Advanced Ceramic Materials; (USA) Vol. 2:4; ISSN 0883-5551; ISSN ACEME
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English