Effects of sintering additives and sintering methods on the mechanical, antimicrobial and optical properties of SiN bioceramics.

SiN bioceramics were fabricated using GPS and SPS method with MgO-REO (RE = La, Nd, Gd, Ho and Lu) sintering additives. The effect of sintering methods and sintering additives on the grain growth, mechanical, antimicrobial properties and color of SiN bioceramics were studied. Samples sintered with GPS are composed of β-SiN and samples sintered with SPS are composed of α-SiN and β-SiN.

Mn-Activated Double-Perovskite-Type SrLuNbO Multifunctional Phosphor for Optical Probing and Lighting.

Multifunctional phosphors have significant application and scientific value and are becoming a research hotspot in the field of luminescent materials. Herein, we report Mn-activated double-perovskite-type SrLuNbO multifunctional phosphors with excellent comprehensive properties in the fields of optical temperature/pressure sensing and w-LED lighting. The crystalline structure, elemental composition, optimal doping concentration, crystal-field strength, and optical bandgap of the phosphors are investigated in detail, and the mechanisms of concentration and thermal quenching are discussed.

Plastic deformation in silicon nitride ceramics via bond switching at coherent interfaces.

Covalently bonded ceramics exhibit preeminent properties-including hardness, strength, chemical inertness, and resistance against heat and corrosion-yet their wider application is challenging because of their room-temperature brittleness. In contrast to the atoms in metals that can slide along slip planes to accommodate strains, the atoms in covalently bonded ceramics require bond breaking because of the strong and directional characteristics of covalent bonds. This eventually leads to catastrophic failure on loading.