Synthesis of fine-grained .alpha.-silicon nitride by a combustion process

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867469

Holt, J Birch ^[1]; Kingman, Donald D ^[2]; Bianchini, Gregory M ^[3]

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1. San Jose, CA
2. Danville, CA
3. Livermore, CA

A combustion synthesis process for the preparation of .alpha.-silicon nitride and composites thereof is disclosed. Preparation of the .alpha.-silicon nitride comprises the steps of dry mixing silicon powder with an alkali metal azide, such as sodium azide, cold-pressing the mixture into any desired shape, or loading the mixture into a fused, quartz crucible, loading the crucible into a combustion chamber, pressurizing the chamber with nitrogen and igniting the mixture using an igniter pellet. The method for the preparation of the composites comprises dry mixing silicon powder (Si) or SiO.sub.2, with a metal or metal oxide, adding a small amount of an alkali metal azide such as sodium azide, introducing the mixture into a suitable combustion chamber, pressurizing the combustion chamber with nitrogen, igniting the mixture within the combustion chamber, and isolating the .alpha.-silicon nitride formed as a reaction product.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4944930
• OSTI ID: 867469
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

synthesis
fine-grained
alpha
-silicon
nitride
combustion
process
preparation
composites
disclosed
comprises
steps
dry
mixing
silicon
powder
alkali
metal
azide
sodium
cold-pressing
mixture
desired
shape
loading
fused
quartz
crucible
chamber
pressurizing
nitrogen
igniting
igniter
pellet
method
sio
oxide
adding
amount
introducing
suitable
isolating
formed
reaction
product
silicon powder
-silicon nitride
synthesis process
metal azide
combustion synthesis
combustion process
silicon nitride
combustion chamber
alkali metal
metal oxide
reaction product
desired shape
mixing silicon
/423/264/501/