Effects of Aluminum Implantation on the Oxidation Behavior of Silicon Nitride in a Sodium Nitrate-Oxygen Gas Mixture

Abstract

AbstractThe role of aluminum in negating the adverse effect of alkali species on the oxidation resistance of Si3N4 ceramics was investigated by exposing unimplanted and aluminum-implanted (1 and 5 at.%) Si3N4 samples to a sodium nitrate (95 ppm)-dry oxygen gas mixture at 1. atm and at 900°1100°C. Oxidation of unimplanted Si3N4 was rapid and linear with an activation energy of 57 kJ/mol. In contrast, samples implanted with aluminum exhibited a considerably reduced oxide growth which was parabolic in nature with activation energies of 103–112 kJ/mol. The morphological characteristics of the oxide layer also showed marked improvement as the aluminum concentration increased.