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Effect of α/β phase ratio on microstructure and mechanical properties of silicon nitride ceramics

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Abstract

Highly densed silicon nitride ceramics with various α/β phase ratios were produced by pulse electric current sintering process. The β-phase content of Si3N4 in sintered materials varied from 20 to 100 wt% depending on the sintering condition. The microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy and investigated by image analysis. Young’s modulus, hardness, fracture toughness, and strength were strongly dependent on the α/β phase ratio. The fracture toughness increased from 4.6 MPa m1/2 for 20-wt% b-phase content to 8.2 MPa m1/2 for 95-wt% β-phase content, and the fracture strength showed a maximum value of about 1.6 GPa at 60-to-80-wt% β-phase content.

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Author notes

  1. Yong-Ho Choa

    Present address: Faculty of New Material Engineering, Chonbuk National University, 561-756, Chonju, Chonbuk, Korea

  2. Lian Gao

    Present address: State Key Laboratory on High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, 200050, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, 567-0047, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan

    Hirokazu Kawaoka, Tomohiko Adachi, Tohru Sekino, Yong-Ho Choa, Lian Gao & Koichi Niihara

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  1. Hirokazu Kawaoka
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  2. Tomohiko Adachi
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  3. Tohru Sekino
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  4. Yong-Ho Choa
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  5. Lian Gao
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  6. Koichi Niihara
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Kawaoka, H., Adachi, T., Sekino, T. et al. Effect of α/β phase ratio on microstructure and mechanical properties of silicon nitride ceramics. Journal of Materials Research 16, 2264–2270 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2001.0311

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2001.0311

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