FABRICATION OF SILICON NITRIDE-SILICON CARBIDE NANOCOMPOSITE CERAMICS

Silicon nitride-silicon carbide nanocomposites have so far been fabricated by hot-pressing fine amorphous Si-C-N powder produced by CVD. This composite exhibited excellent strength and fracture toughness and maintained high strength to temperatures above 1200 degrees C. The current work deals with the fabrication of nanocomposites produced using mixtures of Si3N4 and nanosize SiC powders. Conventional processing techniques were used to optimise the dispersion of the SiC particles. Densification was achieved by pressureless sintering, gas pressure sintering and sinter/HIPping. Mechanical properties such as hardness, fracture toughness and strength at room temperature were assessed. The nanocomposites produced were compared with composites produced using alternative starting materials.