Abstract
In this study, with a view to improve the mechanical properties, the influence of the change in the micro-structure, crystal phase and mechanical properties were evaluated, by changing the amount of one of the sintering additives, Al2O3 and the HIP sintering conditions, from the viewpoint of the micro-structure consisting of α-Si3N4, β-Si3N4 and glassy grain boundary phase.
The experimental results showed that 1) the combination of the sintering additives makes a various sorts of crystals and glassy phase formed which promotes the densification, 2) the addition of Al2O3 was effective in the densification, further, 3) as for the HIP sintering condition, N2 gas pressure higher than 60MPa greatly influences the transformation from α-Si3N4 to β-Si3N4 with densification.
