Aluminum Company of America

Gerald W Leech

Frankie E Phelps

Robert W Woods

A .beta.'SiAlON produced from initial reactant materials comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and carbon that produces a .beta.'SiAlON material having a strength greater than about 50 ksi at approximately 1000.degree. C. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the .beta.'SiAlON material has a strength greater than about 50 ksi at approximately 1200.degree. C. In a second embodiment of the present invention is a low-cost process for producing unsintered high purity alpha silicon nitride structured SiAlON by carbothermic reaction from initial reactant materials comprising Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and carbon.

Process for producing nonequiaxed silicon aluminum oxynitride

A process for producing an unsintered SiAlON material by carbothermic reaction without the use of contaminating transition metal oxides to increase the rate of reaction. The process includes providing small quantities of SiAlON crystals which seed the reaction. The phase of the SiAlON seed crystals will determine the phase of the SiAlON produced.

Growing community of inventors

Apollo, PA, United States of America

Gerald W Leech