Synthesis and Characterization of a SiAION Glass

Homogeneous SiAION glasses containing up to 1 wt% nitrogen were synthesized via a pressureless method with a controlled quench rate and structurally investigated using ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), Raman, and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. Minor changes occur with the incorporation of nitrogen into the aluminosilicate glass structure as evidenced by modifications to spectra of a nitrogen-free aluminosilicate glass. The ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum of the SiAION glass shows the existence of aluminum in 4-,5-, and 6-coordination to oxygen. The ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra show a distribution of silicon sites in 4-coordination to oxygen. Raman and IR spectra of the SiAION glass show additional features due to incorporation of nitrogen in the structure compared with spectra of nitrogen-free aluminosilicate glasses.