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Title: Low temperature fabrication from nano-size ceramic powders. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:54245
; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. National Inst. of Standards and Technology (MSEL), Gaithersburg, MD (United States). Ceramics Div.
  2. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States)
  3. AFOSR, Washington, DC (United States)

Understanding of compaction and rheology of ceramic powders is needed for production of defect-free greenware. High pressure and lubricating media (liq. N{sub 2}, pentane) were used for increased green body density. High green densities could be achieved with nanosize Si nitride and {gamma} alumina. A pressure/temperature system was built which uses an Instron screw-driven press and a piston/cylinder die. Max random packing density of 57 {plus_minus} 2% theoretical was achieved for dry compaction of Si nitride at 2.5 GPa and RT; compaction under liq. N{sub 2} gave 64 {plus_minus} 2%. Dry compaction of alumina was 64% theoretical at 2.5 GPa. Pressureless sintering of Si nitride green compacts did not result in further densification. Hot pressing increased the hardness. In alumina, increased compaction pressure enhances the {gamma}-{alpha} transition and increases the densification upon heat treatment. It is difficult to obtain dense material without coarsened pore/grain microstructure. SANS showed alumina results similar to those found for materials made by inert-gas-condensation. Theoretical studies were also made to model the compaction process. Future studies are outlined.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); National Inst. of Standards and Technology (MSEL), Gaithersburg, MD (United States). Ceramics Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
54245
Report Number(s):
ORNL/SUB-92-22041/02; ON: DE95010995
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 28 Apr 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English