2008 Volume 116 Issue 1357 Pages 980-983
β-SiAlON was synthesized from a zeolite by NH3 gas nitridation and its formation mechanism was investigated using X-ray diffraction and 29Si and 27Al NMR spectroscopy. It was revealed that most of the Si and Al atoms react to form β-SiAlON via amorphous forms of Si-Al-O-N and O-SiAlON. Nitridation using NH3 gas is an effective means of preventing mullite formation and promoting the introduction of nitrogen into aluminosilicate materials at lower temperatures than temperatures required by the carbothermal reduction nitridation process. Further, the NMR spectra showed that the siliceous part of the system changed into low z-value of Si6-zAlzOzN8-z (β-SiAlON) and the incorporation of Al components into the β-SiAlON was promoted in the later stages of the reaction.