Effects of Sintering Additives on Properties of Porous Silicon Nitride Ceramics Fabricated by Carbothermal Reduction

In this paper, porous Si3N4 ceramics were fabricated by carbothermal reduction between silicon dioxide and carbon. The influences of four types of sintering additives on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the porous Si3N4 ceramics were investigated. XRD analysis proved complete formation of a single-phase β-Si3N4. SEM analysis showed that the resultant porous Si3N4 ceramics occupied fine microstructure and a uniform pore structure. The sintered sample with Lu2O3 as sintering additive showed finer, a higher aspect ratio β-Si3N4 grains. The addition of Eu2O3 accelerated the densification of porous Si3N4 ceramics, decreased the porosity and increased the flexural strength.