Fabrication and Characterization of Short Silicon Nitride Fibers from Direct Nitridation of Ferrosilicon in N₂ Atmosphere.

Short silicon nitride fibers were fabricated by direct nitridation of ferrosilicon in N₂ atmosphere, and their structure and possible growth mechanism were characterized and investigated. The rod-like fibers which were α-Si₃N₄ with a low degree of crystallization and a high aspect ratio had a diameter of about 4 μm and a length close to a few millimeters. Belt-like fibers with a width about 5 μm and a thickness about 1 μm were also found in the nitrides.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Si₃N₄-Fe₃Si Composites Prepared by Gas-Pressure Sintering.

Si₃N₄-Fe₃Si composites were prepared using Fe-Si₃N₄ as the source of Fe₃Si by gas-pressure sintering. By adding different amounts of Fe-Si₃N₄ into the starting powders, Si₃N₄-Fe₃Si composites with various Fe₃Si phase contents were obtained. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated.