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Kinetics of [Beta]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] grain growth in Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] ceramics sintered under high nitrogen pressure

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Materials Science and Engineering

The kinetics of anisotropic [beta]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] grain growth in silicon nitride ceramics were studied. Specimens were sintered at temperatures ranging from 1,600 to 1,900C under 10 atm of nitrogen pressure for various lengths of time. The results demonstrate that the grain growth behavior of [Beta]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] grains follows the empirical growth law D[sup n] [minus] D[sup n][sub o] = kt, with the exponents equaling 3 and 5 for length [001] and width [210] direction, respectively. Activation energies for grain growth were 686 kJ/mol for length and 772 kJ/mol for width. These differences in growth rate constants and exponents for length and width directions are responsible for the anisotropy of [Beta]-Si[sub 3]N[sub 4] growth during isothermal grain growth. The resultant aspect ratio of these elongated grains increases with sintering temperature and time.

OSTI ID:
6470302
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States) Vol. 76:1; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English