The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 15, 1990
Aleksander J Pyzik, Midland, MI (US);
Barbara M Pyzik, Midland, MI (US);
The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI (US);
Abstract
Prepare a self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness by hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride and three other components under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur. The other components are silicon dioxide as a densification aid, a conversion aid such as yttrium oxide and a compound, such as calcium oxide, which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers. The resultant silicon nitride ceramic has a .beta.-silicon nitride cyrstalline phase, at least 20 volume percent of which is in the form of whiskers or elongated grains having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5, and a glassy second phase. The glassy phase contains the silicon dioxide, the conversion aid and the compound which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers. The glassy phase may also include a minor amount of aluminum nitride or boron nitride.