PRODUCTION OF SIC WHISKER-REINFORCED SI3N4 SINTERED CERAMIC BODY

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain a sintered Si3N4 ceramic body, containing SiC whiskers homogeneously dispersed therein and having a high fracture toughness with hardly any dispersion of strength by calcining Si3N4 and impregnating the resultant calcined body having a specific porosity with a solution or slurry of an inorganic substance capable of forming SiC whiskers after sintering. CONSTITUTION:A calcined Si3N4 body having 30-70vol.% porosity is impregnated with a solution or slurry containing at least one of inorganic substance capable of forming SiC whiskers after sintering, dried and then sintered at a higher temperature than the calcining temperature of the above-mentioned calcined body. For example, silicone oil, polycarboxysilane solution, a mixture solution of ethyl silicate with various carbon sources, such as phenolic resin, or mixture solutions thereof are cited as the solution or slurry capable of forming the SiC whiskers after the sintering.