Sintering of nano crystalline α silicon carbide doping with aluminium nitride

Sinterable silicon carbide powders were prepared by attrition milling and chemical processing of an acheson type α-SiC. Pressureless sintering of these powders was achieved by addition of aluminium nitride together with carbon. Nearly 99% sintered density was obtained. The mechanism of sintering was studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This study shows that the mechanism is a solid state sintering process.