Microstructural evolution R-?-SiAlON ceramics (R=Y, Y+Sm and Sm)

Abstract

Yttrium or samarium doped ?-SiAlON composition was sintered using gas pressure sintering through two different sintering procedures. One group of samples was heated up to 1800°C and then held for 1h while another group of samples was held at a 1600°C for 1hr before sintered at 1800°C for 1h. Microstructural characterization of the two stage sintered materials revealed the presence of elongated ?-SiAlON form related with the type of additive cations.