• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.8 s.291
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• pp.451-457
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• 2006

The solid solutions of ${\alpha}-Si_3N_4$, i.e. ${\alpha}$-sialons, are represented by a general formula of $M_x(Si,Al)_{12}(O,N)_{16}$, in which metal ions (M) dissolve into interstitial sites to stabilize the structure. Processing methods for the fabrication of ${\alpha}/{\beta}$-sialon composites, ${\alpha}-sialon/{\beta}Si_3N_4$ composites, refractory or tough ${\alpha}$-sialon ceramics have been developed to tailor the mechanical properties. Translucent and photoluminescent properties have been investigated recently. A number of applications of ${\alpha}$-sialon ceramics as engineering and optical ceramics are also presented.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 1988

In order to synthesize the partially stabilized $\alpha$-Sialon, A1N and Y2O3 were added to synthesized $\alpha$-Si3N4. The phase composition, mechanical properties, micro structure, etc, of the synthesized $\alpha$-Sialon were investigated. Partially stabilized $\alpha$-Sialon ceramics could be synthesized from the composition which was a little deviated from x=0.4, x=0.6 composition along the Si3N4.0.1Y2O3:0.9AlN tie line at 1750-180$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs in N2 atmosphere. It is assumed that A1N is more closely related than Y2O3 to the formation of $\alpha$-Sialon, and that A1N is more easily dissolved into $\alpha$-structure than into $\beta$-structure. In Ya2O3-rich phase mechanical properties were observed to be poor because of formation of mellilite, grain growth, and thermal decomposition of $\alpha$-Sialon. The maximum values of M.O.R, KIC and hardness are 723 MPa, 4.5MN/㎥/2 and 19.3 GPa, respectively, and they were observed for the $\alpha$-Sialon ceramics sintered at 178$0^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 1999

The effects of the ${\beta}-Si_3N_4$ starting particle size and $\alpha$/$\beta$ phase transformation during sintering process on the microstructure evolution of Yttrium $\alpha$-Sialon ceramics were investigated. As-received ${\beta}-Si_3N_4$ powder (mean particle size: 0.54$\mu$m) and classified ${\beta}-Si_3N_4$ powder(mean particle size: $0.26\mu{m}$) were used as starting powders. With decreasing the starting particle size, the growth of elongated grains was enhanced, which resulted in the whisker -like microstructure with elongated grains. These results were discussed in relation to the two-dimensional nucleation and growth theory. In the specimen heat treated at $1600^{\circ}C$ for 10h before sintering at $1950^{\circ}C$for 1h under 40atm(2-step sintering), the grain size was smaller than of the 1-step sintering at 195$0^{\circ}C$ for 1h. However, bimodal microstructure evolution were not not remarkable in both sample, which is ascribed to the $\alpha$-phase contents existing in ${\beta}-Si_3N_4$ starting powder.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.341-346
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• 1989

In order to evaluate the oxidation behavior of $\beta$-Sialon, $\beta$-Sialon ceramics was prepared from Si3N4, Al2O3, AlN and Y2O3 system. The specimens were oxidized in an oxygen atmosphere at 1, 20$0^{\circ}C$ for 9days. Oxidation behavior was evaluated by weight gain oxidation process, surface roughness. Microscopy, EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis were also used for the evaluation. The weight and surface roughness ofoxidized specimens were increased with increasing the oxidation time. Oxidized products were mullite, $\alpha$-cristobalite, yttrium aluminum oxide and yttrium silicate oxide.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1987

Synthesis of high purity ultrafine Si3N4 and ${\beta}$-Sialon powders was investigated via the simultaneous reduction and nitriding of amorphous SiO2, SiO2-Al2O3 system prepaerd by hydrolysis of alkoxides, using carbonablack as a reducing agent. In Si(OC2H5)4-C2H5 OH-H2 O-NH4OH system, hydrolysis rate increased with increasing reaction temperature and pH. Pure ${\alpha}$-Si3N4 was formed at 1350$^{\circ}C$ for 5 hrs in N2 atmosphere. In Si(OC2H5)4-Al(OC3H7)3-C6H6-H2 O-NH4OH system, weight loss increased as Si/Al ratio decreased. Single phase ${\beta}$-Sialon consisted of Si/Al=2 was formed at 1350$^{\circ}C$ in N2 and minor phases of ${\alpha}$-Si3N4, AIN, and X-phase were existed besides theSialon phase at other Si/Al ratios. The Si3N4 and Sialon powders synthesized from alkoxides consisted of uniform find particles of 0.05-0.2$\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1417-1423
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• 1995

α/β sialon based composites containing silicon nitride whisker and silicon carbide platelet were fabricated by hot pressing. Effect of the reinforcing agents on the α to β phase transformation of the sialon as well as on the mechanical properties was investigated. Silicon nitride whisker and silicon carbide platelet promoted the phse transformation. TEM/EDS analysis revealed that the grain containing the whisker had 'core-rim' structure; core being high purity Si3N4 whisker and rim being β-sialon. Flexural strength of the composite decreased with the reinforcement addition which, on the other hand, improved fracture toughness of it. High temperature strength was measured at 1300℃ to be about 130 MPa lower than that measured at RT for the whisker reinforced composites.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 1984

$eta$-Sialon synthesis was investigated via the simulataneous reduction and nitriding of Wando pyrophyllite. When Wando pyrophyllite-graphite-$Si_3N_4$ seed mixture was heated at 135$0^{\circ}C$ for as long as 10 hours in 80% $N_2$-20%$H_2$ atomsphere $eta$-$Si_3N_4$ solid solution was mainly formed together with a small amount of $\alpha$-$Si_3N_4$ The value z of the forming $Si_{6-x}Al_2O_2N{8-z}$ was decreased with heating time.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 1992

Partially stabilized alpha-sialon composition (X=0.1) powder was hot-pressed at 1800~200$0^{\circ}C$ for 0~90 min with 30 MPa. Sintering behavior, phase changes and mechanical properties for the specimens were studied. As sintering temperature was raised from 1800 to 190$0^{\circ}C$, the relative density tended to increase and reached 99% of theoretical at 190$0^{\circ}C$. However the amount of alpha-sialon decreased because alpha-sialon transformed to beta-Si3N4 and yttrium rich silicate glass. In the case of hot-pressing at 190$0^{\circ}C$ for various times, densification increased with sintering time and full densification above 99% of theoretical was attained by 30 min. The amount of alpha-sialon decreased with sintering time. The maximum strength of 825 MPa was obtained by hot-pressing at 190$0^{\circ}C$ for 60 min.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.347-356
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• 1992

Various kaolin samples with different alumina content were prepared from calcined admixture of kaolin and ammonium sulfate by varying the treatment time in sulfuric acid. Samples were nitridated under N2 or N2-H2 atmosphere with changing the amount of added carbon, the reaction time and temperature. As the alumina content lowered, the size of kaolin particles decreased and the specific surface area increased. XRD analysis indicated that ${\alpha}$-quartz remained by decomposition of halloysite and meta-halloysite. Experimental results of nitridation behavior are summerized as follows; 1) Nitridation under N2 atmosphere. With the increase of C/SiO2 ratio and with the decrease of Al2O3 content, disappearance of XRD pattern peaks of mullite, ${\alpha}$-quartz and ${\alpha}$-Al2O3 were accelerated at 1300$^{\circ}C$. SiC was the main phase in the reaction product of acid-treated kaolin samples nitridated at 1300$^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours regardless of C/SiO2 ratio. But the XRD peak intensities of ${\beta}$-Si3N4, ${\beta}$-sialon and SiC did not show much difference when untreated raw kaolin was fired at the same condition. When the ratio of C/SiO2 was 3.5, ${\beta}$-sialon and ${\beta}$-Si3N4 existed in the reaction product of about 22% alumina containing kaolin sample fired at 1350$^{\circ}C$ for 7 hours. Only ${\beta}$-sialon existed in the same sample fired at 1400$^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours. ${\beta}$-sialon was obtained from all of the acid-treated kaolin samples fired at 1400$^{\circ}C$ for 40 hours, but AlN and SiC remained in the untreated kaolin sample. Z value of the ${\beta}$-sialon obtained from the 22% alumina containing kaolin sample fired at 1400$^{\circ}C$ for 40 hours was about 1.3(XRD) and 1.5(EDS). 2) Nitridation under 80N2+2OH2 mixed gas atmosphere with the C/SiO2 ratio of 1 Mullite was not found, but ${\alpha}$-Si3N4, and ${\beta}$-sialon were present in the reaction product of about 22% alumina containing kaolin sample fired at 1300$^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours. When untreated kaolin sample was nitridated at the same condition, mullite remained. AlN and SiC were not found in the reaction product of about 22% alumina containing kaolin sample fired at 1350$^{\circ}C$ for 5 hours. On the other hand, AlN and SiC remained in the product of untreated kaolin fired at the same condition.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.130-140
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• 1991

The powders of the system Si3N4-Y2O3-AlN were prepared using Si(OC2H5)4 and YCl3.6H2O together with commercial AlN powder. $\alpha$-Si3N4 was prepared by the carbothermal reduction and nitridation of the hydrolyzed gel at 135$0^{\circ}C$ for 10h in N2 atmosphere. YCl3.6H2O was observed to be changed to Y2O3 during the reaction. $\alpha$-Sialon(X=0.2, 0.4, 0.6) ceramics were obtained by hot-pressing the Si3N4-Y2O3-AlN mixture at 178$0^{\circ}C$ for 1h under 30 MPa. The content of $\alpha$-Sialon increased with increasing metal solubility(x value) and $\alpha$-Sialon single phase was obtained at the metal solubility of 0.6. With increasing metal solubility, flexural strength, fracture toughness and thermal shock resistence were decreased, while the microhardness was increased. Large elongated $\beta$-Si3N4 grains were mainly observed at lower metal solubility. Mechanical prorerties of the sintered ceramics with X=0.2 were measured as follows : flexural strength ; 650 MPa, fracture toughness ; 3.63 MN/m3/2, hardness ; 14.7 GPa, thermal shock resistence temperature ; 58$0^{\circ}C$.