• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.1170-1175
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• 1999

The microstructures and mechanical properties of $Si_3N_4$ ceramics produced by nitridation and post-sintering using semiconductor-waste-Si sludge were investigated. Lots of microcracks were observed in the waste-Si powders which contained some amounts of amorphous $SiO_2$. The nitridation rate of waste-Si compacts showed lower value than that of commercial Si powder compacts. The nitridation rate was increased with increasing nitridation temperature and then the percent of nitridation at 1470$^{\circ}C$ showed 98%. The phases of $Si_3N_4$ in the reaction-bonded bodies were mixed with ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$-type, and small amounts of $Si_2N_2O$ phase while those after post-sintering were ${\beta}$-$Si_3N_4$ and ${\alpha}$-Sialon. The sample post-sintered at 1950$^{\circ}C$ showed the fracture toughness of 5.6 $^MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$ and the fracture strength of 497 MPa which were lower than those of sintered body using commercial Si powder possibly due to the formation of ${\alpha}$-Sialon phase.