Bimodal silicon nitride-bas ceramic composites

Abstract

A composition and method of fabricating pressureless sintered 70 volume % silicon nitride-30 volume % barium aluminum silicate ceramic composites. The composites are made from 70 volume % silicon nitride, containing varying amounts and size distributions of initial β-silicon nitride, and 30 volume % barium aluminum silicate. The resulting ceramic composites contain microstructures with coarse β-silicon nitride whiskers, as well as narrow distributions of short β-silicon nitride whiskers, surrounded by fine barium aluminum silicate grains. The resulting composites exhibit improved fracture toughness and flexural strength.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.