High strength silicon nitride sintered body and process for producing

Abstract

A high-strength silicon nitride sintered body having a flexural strength of 100 kg/mm.sup.2 or higher and a process for producing the same are disclosed, the sintered body comprising not less than 90% by weight of a single crystalline phase of silicon aluminum oxynitride (Si.sub.6-z Al.sub.2 O.sub.z N.sub.8-z, wherein z is a number of from 0 to 4.2) having an average longer diameter of not more than 5 .mu.m and an aspect ratio of not less than 5, the crystal phase constituting a network structure in the sintered body, the balance being a crystalline or amorphous (glassy) phase comprising one or more of oxides or oxynitrides of a rare earth metal, a group 3A metal, a group 2A metal or Si, and the process comprising mixing silicon nitride powder, an organic metal salt as a first sintering aid, and at least one of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, and a metal oxynitride as a second sintering aid, either separately or as a mixture of two or more thereof, with a solvent and a surface active agent, subjecting the mixture or mixtures to ultrasonic dispersion, mixing the mixtures together followed by drying to obtain a mixed powder, molding the mixed powder, and sintering the molded article at a temperature of from 1,600.degree. to 2,200.degree. C. in a non-oxidative atmosphere.