Ordered coalescence of nano crystallites contributing to the rapid anisotropic grain growth in silicon nitride ceramics

• Microstructural characterization is performed on two dense Si3N4 ceramic samples consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS): one fabricated using alpha-Si3N4 and the other using beta-Si3N4 as the starting powder. A novel mechanism is revealed where ordered coalescence of nano beta-crystallites accelerate the rapid beta-Si3N4 anisotropic grain growth. The rapid alpha- to beta-Si3N4 phase transformation via a high supersaturation of dissolved Si3N4 in the melt favors this mechanism. The high heating rate by SPS is essential for achieving such supersaturation.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Nanoteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Nano-technology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Metallurgi och metalliska material (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Metallurgy and Metallic Materials (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Abnormal grain growth

Phase transformations

Interface defects

Spark plasma sintering

HREM

Inorganic Chemistry

oorganisk kemi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)