Ceramic matrices reinforced with SiC, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 or SiAlON fibers having a coating of C, B or BN containing SiC or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4

摘要

The present invention provides fiber-reinforced ceramics containing at least one member of fibers and whiskers as distributed in a sintering ceramic matrix, which comprises the ceramic matrix being composed mainly of SiC, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and Si.sub.6-z Al.sub.z O.sub.z N.sub.8-z, where 0 z≦4, the fibers and the whiskers being composed of at least one of SiC, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and Si.sub.6-z Al.sub.z O.sub.z N.sub.8-z, where 0 z≦4, and a coating film of C, B or BN being provided on the surfaces of the fibers and the whiskers. The fiber- reinforced ceramics have a high fracture toughness, K.sub.1c, and a high bending strength, particularly K.sub.1c of at least 10 MN/m.sup.3/2 and a bending strength of at least 50 kg/mm.sup.2.