• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.473-480
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• 1997

$\beta-SiC$powder with or without the addition of 1-3 wt% of $\beta-SiC$ whiskers (seeds) was hot-pressed at $1850^{\circ}C$ for 1 h using $Al_2O_3$ and $Y_2O_3$ as sintering aids. The hot-pressed materials were subsequently annealed at $1950^{\circ}C$ to enhance grain growth. The introduction of $\beta-SiC$ whiskers into $\beta-SiC$ does not affect the microstructure as well as mechanical properties significantly because the whiskers are not viable in the presence of liquid phase during hot-pressing. The strengths and fracture toughnesses of the hot-pressed and subsequently 5 h-annealed materials with 1 wt% $\beta-SiC$ whiskers and without $\beta-SiC$ whiskers were 465 MPa and 5.8 MPaㆍ$m^{1/2}$, and 451 MPa and 5.5 MPaㆍ$m^{1/2}$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.333-336
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• 2012

The study to give electrical conductivity by dispersing carbon nanotubes (CNT) into silicon nitride ($Si_3N_4$) ceramics has been carried out in recent years. However, the density and the strength of $Si_3N_4$ ceramics were degraded and CNTs disappeared after firing at high temperatures because CNTs prevent $Si_3N_4$ from densification and there is a possibility that CNTs react with $Si_3N_4$ or $SiO_2$. In order to suppress the reaction and the disappearance of CNTs, lower temperature densification is needed. In this study, $HfO_2$ and $TiO_2$ was added to $Si_3N_4-Y_2O_3-Al_2O_3$-AlN system to fabricate CNT-dispersed $Si_3N_4$ ceramics at lower temperatures. $HfO_2$ promotes the densification of $Si_3N_4$ and prevents CNT from disappearance. As a result, the sample by adding $HfO_2$ and $TiO_2$ fired at lower temperatures showed higher electrical conductivity and higher bending strength. It was also shown that the mechanical and electrical properties depended on the quantity of the added CNTs.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.462-466
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• 2015

This paper reports the microstructure of hot-pressed $ZrB_2$-SiC ceramics with added $B_4C$ as characterized by transmission electron microscopy. $ZrB_2$ has a melting point of $3245^{\circ}C$, a relatively low density of $6.1g/cm^3$, and specific mechanical properties at an elevated temperature, making it a candidate for application to environments with ultra-high temperatures which exceed $2000^{\circ}C$. Due to the non-sinterability of $ZrB_2$-based ceramics, research on sintering aids such as $B_4C$ or $MoSi_2$ has become prominent recently. From TEM investigations, an amorphous layer with contaminant oxide is observed in the vicinity of $B_4C$ grains remaining in hot-pressed $ZrB_2$-SiC ceramics with $B_4C$ as an additive. The effect of a $B_4C$ addition on the microstructure of this system is also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.578-582
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• 2010

$ZrB_2$ has a melting point of $3245^{\circ}C$ and a relatively low density of $6.1\;g/cm^3$, which makes this a candidate for application to ultrahigh temperature environments over $2000^{\circ}C$. Beside these properties, $ZrB_2$ is known to have excellent resistance to thermal shock and oxidation compared with other non-oxide engineering ceramics. In order to enhance such oxidation resistance, SiC was frequently added to $ZrB_2$-based systems. Due to nonsinterability of $ZrB_2$-based ceramics, research on the sintering aids such as $B_4C$ or $MoSi_2$ becomes popular recently. In this study, densification and high-temperature properties of $ZrB_2$-SiC ceramics especially with $B_4C$ are investigated. $ZrB_2$-20 vol% SiC system was selected as a basic composition and $B_4C$ or C was added to this system in some extents. Mixed powders were sintered using hot pressing (HP). With sintered bodies, densification behavior and high-temperature (up to $1400^{\circ}C$) properties such as flexural strength, hardness, and so on were examined.