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Microstructure of Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ fluxed hot-pressed silicon nitride

Journal Article · · J. Am. Ceram. Soc.; (United States)

Detailed microstructural analysis of a 10 mol% Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ fluxed hot-pressed silicon nitride reveals that, in addition to the yttrium-silicon oxynitride phase located at the multiple Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ grain junctions, there is a thin boundary phase 10 to 80 A wide separating the silicon nitride and the oxynitride grains. Also, x-ray microanalysis from regions as small as 200 A across demonstrates that the yttrium-silicon oxynitride, Y/sub 2/Si(Si/sub 2/O/sub 3/N/sub 4/), phase can accommodate appreciable quantities of Ti, W, Fe, Ni, Co, Ca, Mg, Al, and Zn in solid solution. This finding, together with observations of highly prismatic Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ grains enveloped by Y/sub 2/Si(Si/sub 2/O/sub 3/N/sub 4/), suggests that densification occurred by a liquid-phase ''solution-reprecipitation'' process.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Berkeley
OSTI ID:
6214533
Journal Information:
J. Am. Ceram. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Am. Ceram. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 61:3-4; ISSN JACTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English