Abstract
The b-sialon materials converted through the simultaneous carbothermal reduction and nitridation process varies with the characteristics of the starting materials of the local kaolin of Malaysia. The presence and amount of the b-sialon phase was observed to depend on the alumina/silica ratio, the content of kaolinite, particle size and the impurities that was present in the kaolin such as free silica and mica. The investigations of the phase development was carried out at temperatures from 1000oC to 1550oC at nitrogen flow rate of 10ml/cm3 and activated carbon of 10% in excess. The phase development was analysed using X-Ray Diffraction technique while its microstructure through Scanning Electron Microscope. Apart from b-sialon, other phases such as mullite, aluminium nitride, X-phase sialon and alumina was also observed during the phase development of the different kaolin.
