Mechanical properties of Sialon

Silicon nitride based ceramics have several important applications in the fabrication of hard materials, such as ceramic cutting tools. In this work, aluminum nitride, yttrium oxide and cerium oxide were used as sintering aids on pressureless sintered Si3N4. The relationships between the type and quantities of these additives with micro hardness (HV), fracture toughness and formed crystalline phases, such as Sialon, have been evaluated. The correlation between microstructure and the mechanical properties has been studied, using the scanning electron microscopy.