SILICON NITRIDE/SILICON CARBIDE COMPOSITE POWDERS, THEIR PREPARATION AND DENSIFIED MATERIALS PREPARED USING THE COMPOSITE POWDERS

摘要

Prepare silicon nitride-silicon carbide composite powders by carbothermal reduction of crystalline silica powder, carbon powder and, optionally, crystalline silicon nitride powder. The crystalline silicon carbide portion of the composite powders has a mean number diameter less than about 700 nanometers and contains nitrogen. The composite powders may be used to prepare sintered ceramic bodies and self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic bodies.