Role of ?-SiAlON nuclei addition on the rod-like Y-Sm ?-SiAlON formation

Abstract

In this study, effect of seed addition on the microstructural development of Y-Sm ?-SiAlON system has been investigated. Besides using pre-produced rod-like ?-SiAlON seeds, growth in the glassy phase and harvested by chemical treatment, powdered Y-Sm/?-SiAlON was also used as nuclei. Microstructural results of both systems were compared with un-seeded samples. It was found that the powdered ?-SiAlON addition has also caused the acicular ?-SiAlON grain formation, which indicates the dominant effect of thermodynamic stability on the preferential growth of ?-SiAlON grains in the c direction.