Improvement of elongated alpha-SiAlON ceramics by variation of the processing conditions and amounts of additives

Abstract

Two types of Y-alpha -SiAlON composition, with different amounts of additional liquid phase were densified in a gas pressure sintering furnace using three different sintering cycles. One series of samples was heated up to 1825 degreesC for 3 hrs, another group of samples was held at a lower temperature (1500 degreesC or 1600 degreesC) for I hr and then heated up to 1825 degreesC for 3 hrs. The effect of the amounts of sintering additive and processing conditions on density and microstructure were evaluated.