Microstructure in Silicon Nitride Containing β-Phase Seeding: III, Grain Growth and Coalescence |
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Authors: | Horng-Hwa Lu Jow-Lay Huang |
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Affiliation: | Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, Republic of China |
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Abstract: | The mechanical properties of Si3N4 materials depend mainly on the microstructure, which originates during the densification process. The microscopic evidence indicates that β-Si3N4 seeds incorporated in the starting powders play an important role in microstructural development, especially in the heterogeneous grain growth of β-Si3N4 grains during sintering. The growth of β-grains is initiated from the β-seeds, resulting in a core/shell microstructure. The presence of Moiré fringes and dislocations is attributed to misfit strain and compositional differences between the core and the shell. Coalescence can occur at the final stage of sintering. |
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Keywords: | grain growth microstructure seeding silicon nitride |
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