Mixed α- and β-(Si-Al-O-N) materials with yttria and neodymia additions

A number of ceramic materials have been fabricated on a semipilot plant scale by sintering at different overall compositions in the Y, Nd)-Si-Al-O-N system at 1775°C. Constant molar amounts of oxide mixtures of Y2O3:Nd2O3 in the ratios 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 or 0:100 have been added. Dense materials were obtained for all compositions except those corresponding to mixed α- and β- (Si-Al-O-N) with higher α-(Si-Al-O-N) contents and high Nd2O3 contents. At the preparation temperature used in this study, the formation of an α-(Nd-Si-Al-O-N) seems prohibited and, thus, with increasing Nd2O3 content the amount of α-(Si-Al-O-N) decreased. The Nd2O3 added mainly formed crystalline intergranular phases such as the N-melilite phase, which increased in amount with increasing Nd2O3 in the starting mix. Hardness and indentation fracture toughness measurements were made and are discussed in relation to the phase composition and the microstructure. Some of the high Nd2O3 content Si-Al-O-N materials have as high fracture toughness values as the pure Y2O3Si-Al-O-N materials do.