Production and sintering of reaction bonded silicon nitride composites

Abstract

A method for producing a sintered reaction bonded silicon nitride ceramic reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers is disclosed. The method comprises mixing powdered silicon having an average particle size not greater than 5 .mu.m with from 3 to 7 percent each of MgO and CeO.sub.2 and from 10 to 35 percent of silicon carbide whiskers, from 15 to 50 percent of silicon nitride or from 10 to 35 percent of silicon carbide whiskers and from 15 to 50 percent of silicon nitride, pressing a shape from the resulting mixture, and heating the shape in a nitrogen atmosphere at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere absolute. The MgO and CeO.sub.2 serve as sintering aids. Other suitable sintering aids include 2 to 8 percent of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, 6 percent of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 2 percent of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 2 to 8 percent of MgO, BeO, HfO.sub.2 or ZrO.sub.2 and 1 to 5 percent of CaO. The heating of the ground shape is controlled, until a temperature is reached at which it has previously been determined that the consumption of nitrogen by reaction between silicon of the shape and nitrogen is complete so that reaction between nitrogen and the shape is substantially complete at any given temperature before the shape is heated above that temperature, and therafter the shape is heated rapidly to produce, by reaction involving the sintering aid, a sufficient amount of a glass to produce a Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 body having from 65 to 85 percent of theoretical density.