Silicon Nitride Ceramic Prepared by Colloidal Process

Abstract

Advanced silicon nitride ceramic compact was prepared by colloidal process. The rheological behaviors of the Si3N4 powders were emphatically investigated. At the same time, the effects of the dispersant, pH value and ball milling time on the silicon nitride slurry were discussed. The results showed that the addition of the dispersant could shift the value of Zeta potential and improve the fluidity of silicon nitride slurries. The well fluidity can be achieved when the amount of the dispersant was 1.2wt%. Besides, a ball milling time of 8h was appropriate. Statistic pattern recognition was used to predict the processing parameters. Then the high density of green compact could be attained while the volume fraction of solid powders was up to 40%, and the fracture toughness of the sintered body reached 7.2MPa·m1/2. The microstructure of final sintered ceramic was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).