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In Situ Synthesis of Silicon Carbide Whiskers from Silicon Nitride Powders
Author(s) -
Wang Hongyu,
Fischman Gary S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1991.tb07134.x
Subject(s) - whiskers , carbothermic reaction , silicon carbide , materials science , silicon nitride , silicon , graphite , chemical engineering , impurity , whisker , carbide , nitride , carbon fibers , monocrystalline whisker , metallurgy , composite material , chemistry , composite number , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , engineering
Silicon carbide whiskers were synthesized in situ by direct carbothermal reduction of silicon nitride with graphite in an argon atmosphere. Phase evolution study reveals that the formation of β‐SiC was initiated at 1400° to 1450°C; above 1650°C silicon was formed when carbon was deficient. Nevertheless, Si 3 N 4 could be completely converted to SiC with molar ratio Si 3 N 4 :C = 1:3 at 1650°C. The morphology of the SiC whiskers is needlelike, with lengths and diameters changing with temperature. SiC fibers were produced on the surface of the sample fired at 1550°C with an average diameter of 0.3 μm. No catalyst was used in the syntheses, which minimizes the amount of impurities in the final products. A reaction mechanism involving the decomposition of silicon nitride has been proposed.