Fabrication of Elongated α-SiAlON via a Reaction-Bonding Process

A reaction-bonding process, which offers low sintering shrinkage and is a low-cost process, was applied to fabricate Y–α-SiAlON ceramics. The green compacts composed of Si, Y₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and AlN were nitrided and subsequently postsintered. Dense single-phase Y–α-SiAlON with elongated grain morphology could be achieved in the specimen postsintered at 1900°C. The material exhibited high hardness (1850 HV10) and high fracture toughness (5.1 MPa·m^1/2).     

Glass-Reduced SiAlONs with Improved Creep and Oxidation Resistance

Ceramics containing α-SiAlON with improved high-temperature properties such as thermal stability and creep and oxidation resistance were synthesized. The influence of starting composition on the amount of residual grain-boundary phase has been explored. Results have been interpreted in terms of compatibility phase relationships in the Si₃N₄–AlN–Al₂O₃–Re₂O₃ system and transient evolutions.     

Analytical transmission electron microscopy observations on the stability of TiCN in electrically conductive α-β SiAlON/TiCN composites

Coating of α-β SiAlON granules with TiCN powder led to a continuous 3D electrically conductive network formation. Here, the stability of TiCN grains following gas pressure sintering (GPS) and its effect on the electrical properties of an α-β SiAlON/TiCN composite were analytically investigated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based techniques. In situ formation of nano-sized SiC grains adjacent to TiCN and α-β SiAlON grains were observed. These SiC grains may play a role on the high electrical conductivity of α-β SiAlON/TiCN composite. Ti:C:N ratios from TiCN grains along the network showed that TiCN grains did not preserve their initial composition after sintering. Finally, Ti diffusion from TiCN grains into α-β SiAlON and triple junction phases was observed. The incorporation of Ti into the SiAlON crystal lattices contributes to the high electrical conductivity of α-β SiAlON/TiCN composite.     

Carbothermal/aluminothermic reduction nitridation synthesis of ZrN–SiAlON refractory composites from zircon and bauxite: a comparative study of the reduction effect of reducers

The ZrN–SiAlON composite refractory powder was successfully synthesised from zircon and bauxite minerals by the carbothermal reduction nitridation or the aluminothermic reduction nitridation method with three typical reducers, including carbon coke, carbon black and aluminium powder. The effect of reaction temperatures on phase composition and microstructure was investigated using X-ray diffraction and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The thermodynamics equilibrium relationships of the condensed phases were analysed as well. The results showed that carbon coke was the most optimum reducer and when it was used as the reducer, the main final products were granular ZrN with a little β-SiAlON. Nevertheless, ZrO₂ was produced during reduction at 1600°C when the reducer was carbon black, because the activity of carbon black was the poorest. Additionally, more byproducts were produced in the case of Al powder used as reducer at 1600°C, such as AlN polytype and Al₂O₃.     

Fabrication of silica glass containing yellow oxynitride phosphor by the sol–gel process

We have prepared silica glass by the sol–gel method and studied its ability to disperse the Ca-α-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ phosphor for application in white light emitting diodes (LEDs). The emission color generated by irradiating doped glass with a blue LED at 450 nm depended on the concentration of SiAlON and the glass thickness, resulting in nearly white light. The luminescence efficiency of 1-mm-thick glass depended on the SiAlON concentration, and was highest at 4 wt% SiAlON.     

Al-Si复合Al_2O_3-β-SiAlON-C材料加热过程中性能、相组成和显微结构的变化

以电熔白刚玉(≤0.5、≤0.088和≤0.045 mm)、熔融石英(≤0.5 mm)、鳞片石墨(≤0.15 mm)、矾土基β-SiAlON(≤0.088 mm)、Al粉(≤0.074 mm)和Si粉(≤0.074 mm)为主要原料,以热固性酚醛树脂为结合剂,制成25 mm×25 mm×125 mm的Al-Si复合Al2O3-β-SiAlON-C试样,经200℃固化24 h后,分别在800、1 000、1 200、1 400和1 600℃下埋炭(石墨)保温3 h,冷却后测定其体积密度、显气孔率、常温耐压强度、常温抗折强度、高温抗折强度和抗热震性,并进行XRD和SEM分析.结果表明:1)随着热处理温度的升高,Al-Si复合Al2O3-β-siAlON-C试样的显气孔率均下降,体积密度、常温耐压强度、常温抗折强度、高温抗折强度、热震后残余抗折强度均逐渐提高,但其抗折强度保持率在经1 000℃热处理后最高,随后逐渐降低;2)在高温还原气氛的热处理过程中,试样中的Al、Si与C(CO)或N2反应,原位生成了AlN、β-SiC、Al4C3和β-SiAlON等非氧化物,对试样具有填充气孔及增强增韧的作用.     

Cytocompatibility property evaluation of gas pressure sintered SiAlON-SiC composites with L929 fibroblast cells and Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells

Although the oxide ceramics have widely been investigated for their biocompatibility, non-oxide ceramics, such as SiAlON and SiC are yet to be explored in detail. Lack of understanding of the biocompatibility restricts the use of these ceramics in clinical trials. It is hence, essential to carry out proper and thorough study to assess cell adhesion, cytocompatibility and cell viability on the non-oxide ceramics for the potential applications. In this perspective, the present research work reports the cytocompatibility of gas pressure sintered SiAlON monolith and SiAlON-SiC composites with varying amount of SiC, using connective tissue cells (L929) and bone cells (Saos-2). The quantification of cell viability using MTT assay reveals the non-cytotoxic response. The cell viability has been found to be cell type dependent. An attempt has been made to discuss the cytocompatibility of the developed composites in the light of SiC content and type of sinter additives.     

Effect of SiC addition on the thermal diffusivity of SiAlON ceramics

Despite the fact that thermal conductivity is a crucial parameter for SiAlON ceramics with respect to their suitability in various applications, including high-temperature structural components, wear parts, and cutting tools, studies on SiAlON ceramics reported thus far mainly focus on the improvement of their mechanical properties. In view of the lack of sufficient studies on the thermal conductivity of SiAlON ceramics, this study investigates the improvement in the thermal diffusivity behaviour of SiAlON ceramics by the addition of highly conductive SiC particles. As solid-solution SiAlON ceramics exhibit complex crystal structures typically composed of defects, the phonon scattering increases, subsequently decreasing diffusivity. In particular, the improvement in the thermal diffusivity of both α- and β-SiAlONs was investigated by the addition of 0.25 wt% SiC. In addition, the effect of the SiC particle size on the thermal diffusivity of β-SiAlON was examined. Using inverse diffusivity data, intrinsic and extrinsic scattering parameters were determined, and compared to intrinsic scattering, extrinsic scattering was a dominant factor. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of SiC_p-reinforced α and -β-SiAlON ceramics were recorded to examine the SiC particle distribution.     

低品位铝土矿合成β-SiAlON的相变过程研究

采用XRD、SEM和EDS等手段 ,研究了低品位铝土矿碳热还原氮化合成SiAlON过程的相变。结果表明 :130 0℃开始氮化 ,形成Si2 N2 O和X SiAlON ;14 0 0℃开始形成 β SiAlON (z =3) ,X相明显增加 ;14 5 0℃时 ,β SiAlON (z =3)成为主要的氮化产物 ,并与少量的Si3 N4和刚玉并存 ;15 0 0℃开始形成 15R ,同时 ,β SiAlON的z值开始由 3变为 4 ;15 5 0℃时 ,15R和 β SiAlON成为主要物相 ,同时含有部分刚玉相和Si3 N4相。 14 5 0℃时 ,由低品位铝土矿合成纯净的 β SiAlON复合少量刚玉相粉体材料的最佳保温时间是 6～ 9h ,时间过短则含有较多的X相 ;时间过长则发生过量氮化 ,形成部分 15R和少量Si3 N4。