Ca-α SiAlON hollow spheres prepared by carbothermal reduction–nitridation from different SiO2 powders

The formation process of hollow spheres composed of nanosized Ca-α SiAlON particles was investigated using SiO2 starting powders with different characteristics in particle size, shape and crystalline state. TEM observations showed Ca-α SiAlON hollow spheres composed of a large number of nanosized particles in the products prepared at 1450 °C for 120 min in nitrogen. In all systems, the Ca-α SiAlON hollow spheres were always produced through an intermediate Si–Al–Ca–O liquid phase in the same mechanism, regardless of the characteristics of SiO2 starting powders used. Spherical solid particles consisted of amorphous phase containing Si, Al, Ca, O and a small amount of N were generated at the initial stage of carbothermal reduction–nitridation. These spherical solid particles changed into hollow particles with the progression of the reaction from the liquid phase to the crystalline Ca-α SiAlON with increasing temperature.