Abstract
An investigation of the pressureless sintering of Si3N4 powder with the addition of 5 wt % MgO revealed that shrinkage by a liquid phase mechanism and bulk decomposition are two countervailing processes. Within the temperature range studied, i.e. between 1500 and 1750° C, high densities can be achieved when sintering is performed either for long periods at low temperatures or short periods at higher temperatures. A model is presented showing that pore growth due to decomposition causes a decrease in the driving force for sintering and causes shrinkage to cease.
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Terwilliger, G.R., Lange, F.F. Pressureless sintering of Si3N4 . J Mater Sci 10, 1169–1174 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00541399
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00541399