In situ Reinforced Silicon Nitride — Barium Aluminosilicate Composite

Abstract

A low cost-high performance silicon nitride-BAS composite can be fabricated via pressureless sintering. In this composite, the BAS glass-ceramic serves as an effective liquidphase-sintering aid, to attain full densification and complete the $α$-$β$ Si3N4 phase transformation, and remains as a structural matrix that is reinforced by the silicon nitride whiskers. Si3N4 whiskers grow in random directions in a near completely crystallized matrix of hexacelsian BAS.