Infiltration of Al2O3/Y2O3 and AlN/Y2O3 mixes into SiC preforms

This work shows the behavior of Al2O3/Y2O3 and AlN/Y2O3 melts during infiltration of porous silicon carbide (SiC) preforms. Preforms were placed on plates from Al2O3/Y2O3 or AlN/Y2O3 and set into graphite crucibles. These samples were heated up to the melting points of the mixes: 1870 degrees C for 5 and 10 min for Al2O3/Y2O3 mix infiltrates, and 1940 degrees C for 5 and 2.5 min for AlN/Y2O3 mix infiltrates. After infiltration the samples were cut in the longitudinal sections and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) X-ray elemental mapping. It was observed that AlN/Y2O3 melt infiltrated faster than Al2O3/Y2O3 melt. The infiltration was fully analyzed in all samples. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.