Key Engineering Materials Vols. 368-372

Abstract: SiC whisker reinforced (Mo,W)Si2 composite powder has been successfully synthesized by a novel process, named as chemical oven self-propagating high temperature synthesis (COSHS). The mixtures of Si and Ti powders were ignited as chemical oven. XRD result shows that the combustion product is mainly composed of (Mo,W)Si2 solid solution and SiC phases. SEM photo and EDS result show that SiC whisker is formed during this process. The as-prepared SiCW/(Mo,W)Si2 composite powder has been pressureless sintered. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. Relative densities of the monolithic material and composite are 91.2% and 92.2%, respectively. The composite containing SiC whisker and (Mo,W)Si2 solid solution has higher Vickers hardness than monolithic MoSi2. Especially the room-temperature flexural strength of the composite is higher than that of monolithic MoSi2, from 135.5MPa for MoSi2 to 235.6MPa for composites with 10 vol.% WSi2 and 15 vol.% SiC, increased by 73.9%. The morphology of fractured surface of composite reveals the mechanism to improve flexural strength of MoSi2. The results of this work show that in situ SiCW/(Mo,W)Si2 composite powder prepared by COSHS technique could be successfully sintered via pressureless sintering process and significant improvement of room temperature flexural strength could be achieved. It could be a cost-effective process for industry in future applications.

Abstract: Transformation of the microstructure of molybdenum disilicide heating unit in nitrogen atmosphere at 1700°C was investigated by XRD, SEM and EDS. The results showed that MoSi2 was transformed to polyhedral Si3N4 crystals groups distributed across in the matrix with irregular geometry Mo5Si3 and Mo3Si crystals, and the Si3N4 crystal groups were dense areas, while the Mo5Si3 and Mo3Si groups were loose areas after being heated in nitrogen atmosphere at 1700°C for 3h. The thickness of conversion zone of MoSi2 matrix was about 30μm and the loose Mo5Si3 and Mo3Si areas can damage the dense structure of MoSi2 matrix.

Abstract: MoSi2 composites reinforced by carbon nanotubes were prepared by spark-discharge plasma sintering (SPS), and the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the MoSi2 was also discussed in this work. The mechanical properties of MoSi2 reinforced by carbon nanotubes were measured. Investigation indicated that the carbon nanotubes can be well dispersed by introducing the dispersant C12H25SO3Na and the mechanical properties of the composites improved significantly. The mechanism that the composites were reinforced and toughened were discussed in this work.

Abstract: MoSi2 was prepared by SHS, and then pressed under 300 MPa at room temperature and sintered at 1600 °C for 1 h in a vacuum furnace. The tribological properties of MoSi2 against Al2O3 in the temperature range from 700°C to 1100 °C were investigated. Microphotographs and phases of the worn surface of MoSi2 were observed by SEM and XRD. Results showed that MoSi2 has well friction and wear properties below 900 °C. When temperature rises from 900 °C to 1000 °C, wear rate of MoSi2 is raised by 20.8% which is attribute to the change of wear mechanism. The main wear mechanisms of MoSi2 are adhesion and oxidation at high temperatures. When over 900 °C, because of ductile - brittle transition characteristic of this material, plastic deformation and fracture are also found on the worn surface of MoSi2. This leads to the high wear rate of MoSi2.

Abstract: Using a reticulated polyurethane sponge with interconnected pores as primal framework and immersing into TiB2 slurry consisting of Ni and Mo as sintering additives, a porous TiB2 ceramics with high porosity and interconnected pores was prepared by immersing and high temperature sintering process. The rheology of TiB2 slurry which used silica sol as a binder was studied. The optimum condition of the slurry suitable for impregnating the polyurethane sponge was obtained. The flexural strength of the porous reticulated TiB2 ceramics can reach 1 MPa.

Abstract: In this paper, AlN powder and ceramic are prepared by microwave sintering under various sintering environments. The microstructures of the powder and the ceramic are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction technology. The mechanical and thermal properties of the ceramic are studied. It was found that the sintering environment has great influence on the material fabrication. The heat-assisted environment is beneficial to the synthesis of AlN powder. On the other hand, the carbothermal sintering environment has the two-sided influence to the sintering of AlN ceramic.

Abstract: Effect of adding up to 5wt% CaF2 on the densification and microstructural development of hot pressed aluminum nitride (AlN) was investigated. SEM investigation showed that the grain size of the sintered sample decreases with the increasing content of CaF2. Secondary-phase evolution paths converge from CA6 to CA phase above 1650°C. TEM micrographs showed that formed secondary phases could evaporate from sintered bodies at higher temperatures in the carbon-containing nitrogen atmosphere and the residuals were mainly distributed at triple grain junctions, keeping direct connections of AlN grains. Translucnet AlN ceramics were prepared using CaF2 additive sintered at 1850°C for 5 h.

Abstract: Based on the nitridation reaction of aluminum with boron nitride (BN), aluminum nitride (AlN) matrix composites were fabricated by reaction synthesis technique. The effect of the amount of Al on the microstructure and properties was investigated. The bending strength, thermal conductivity and dielectric constant increase with the content of aluminum. A heat-treatment schedule was performed to investigate the effect of the microstructure on the properties. The results showed that the heat-treatment leads to the grain growth and thermal conductivity increase with the grain growth.

Abstract: AlN/Al ceramic composite was fabricated by directed melt nitridation of pure Al block covered with 10wt% Mg powder at 1300°C in a high purity flowing N2. Microstructure and phase composition of the composite were investigated by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that AlN is the main phase in the composite and its lattice parameters of a and c are 3.1110Å and 4.9806Å, respectively. The phase composition of the composite changes along the growth direction and a gradient sandwich structure forms. The surface of the composite is made up of a dense and thin nodular AlN layer, underneath which an AlN/Al layer appears, followed by an AlN/Al/MgAl2O4 layer. Thermodynamic calculations predicted the formation of possible phases with the addition of Mg. It suggested that the content of Mg at the reaction frontier of nitridation is considerably lower to 0.15wt% where MgAl2O4 was stable, because of escape and reaction exhaustion of Mg. Once Mg is lower than 0.05wt%, only a dense AlN layer can exist, which prevents the further nitridation of Al melt.

Abstract: Braided silica fibers reinforced nitride composite (SFRN), which was prepared by the polymeric precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) process with the precursor polyborosilazane (PSBZ), was a new typed microwave transparent material with high mechanical and ablation resistance performance for high-temperature application. The thermal ablation performance of the SFRN was evaluated by the ablation equipment with the kerosene and liquid oxygen as the heating source. The ablation surface texture of the SFRN including macrostructure and roughness were measured by Three-dimensional Macrostructure and Contour Scale System (TMCSS). Results showed that there are no concurrent observation of thermal delaminations or cracks and the specimen remains intact. The SFRN has an excellent thermal shock resistance and good ablation resistance with the linear recession rate of 0.038mm/s. The ablation surface texture of the SFRN can be well illuminated by the TMCSS. And the ablation performance will be improved by enhancing material density and homogeneous intertextures.