Abstract
Using elemental powders, high-temperature reaction was carried out to form ceramics and ceramic-ceramic composites in the Si-N-C system. Si and C powders reacted in gaseous nitrogen and formed a Si3N4 (α-Si3N4 and β-Si3N4) - SiC (β-SiC) mixture product, that is, the reaction, 4Si+C+2N2→Si3N4+SiC, was complete. In the reaction pass, it is noted that the equilibrium reaction, Si3N4+3C=3SiC+2N2, progress under a nitrogen gas, and suppress the decomposition of the Si3N4. Therefore, the processing technique in the present work is of interest as a new high-temperature reaction process to make Si3N4-SiC composite materials.
