Fabrication and flexural strength of porous Si₃N₄ ceramics with Li₂CO₃ and Y₂O₃ as sintering additives

Abstract

By employing sintering additives of Li₂CO₃ and Y₂O₃, porous Si₃N ceramics are prepared after experiencing the processes of sintering and post-vacuum heat treatment at 1680 and 1550 °C, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate the completed phase transformation from α to β-Si₃N₄ in Si₃N₄ ceramic samples with a amount of 1.60 wt% Li₂CO₃ (0.65 wt% Li₂O) and 0.33 wt% Y₂O₃ additives. The as-synthesized porous Si3N4 ceramics exhibit high flexural strength ((126.7±2.7) MPa) and high open porosity of 50.4% at elevated temperature (1200 °C). These results are attributed to the significant role of added Li₂CO₃ as sintering additive, where the volatilization of intergranular glassy phase occurs during sintering process. Therefore, porous Si₃N₄ ceramics with desired mechanical property prepared by altering the addition of sintering additives demonstrate their great potential as a promising candidate for high temperature applications.

Keywords

sintering additive / flexural strength / porosity / glassy phase / Si₃N₄ porous ceramics

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