Preparation and Properties of Silicon Nitride Ceramics by Nitrided Pressureless Sintering (NPS) Process

Abstract

Silicon nitride ceramics were prepared by new nitrided pressureless sintering (NPS) process in this study. The microstructures, strengths and thermal properties of the NPS silicon nitride ceramics containing three types of Al2O3 and Y2O3 sintering additives were investigated. Additionally, we have investigated the effect of silicon metal contents changing with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% in each composition. The silicon nitride was successfully densified using NPS process, particularly at the starting composition of 5 wt.% Al2O3, 5 wt.% Y2O3, and 5 wt.% Si addition. The maximum flexural strengths and relative densities of these specimens were 500 MPa and 98%, respectively. The flexural strength of sintered specimens after the thermal shock test between 30oC and 1300oC for 20,000 cycles was maintained with the original laboratory strength of 500MPa by low thermal expansion coefficient, 2.9 × 10-6/oC, and high thermal conductivity, 28 W/m⋅oC.