Sintering Behavior and Microstructure of diphasic β-Sialon /Al_2O_3 Composites

Six compositions with different ratio of β-Sialon/Al2O3 were synthesized from Al2O3, Si3,N4 and SiO2 by sintering with 3%Y2O3(mass fraction) as addition under the cover with powders of SiC+C and at nitrogen atmosphere. Theeffects of atmosphere, sintering temperature and composition on the sintering behavior were studied. The results showedthat the composites reached the best sintering behavior with the highest density about 92% at 1 650℃ under the weakreduction atmosphere. Finally the relative density of diphasic β-Sialon and p-Sialon/Al2O3 composites were studied andpredicted using ANN (Artificial Neural Networks) method and the results were experimental examined by fore randomsamples.

Effect of Chromium Powder on Sintering Property of Chrome Oxide Materials

The specimens were prepared using Cr2O3 micropowder, TiO2 micropowder and chromium powder as starting materials, PVA as binder, after spraying granulation and cold isostatic pressing, firing at 1 450 ℃ for 3 h in standard nitrogen and oxygen control atmosphere （ oxygen partial pressure was 1 010 Pa and 10. 1 Pa, respectively）. Effects of chromium powder （ mass percent were 0, 0. 5% , 1.0% , 1.5% and 2.0% , respectively） on sintering behaviors of Cr2O3 materials were researched. The results show that： adding 0. 5% chromium powder can obviously decrease the oxygen partial pressure in the specimens. Meanwhile, because the expansion caused by the oxidation reaction is small, Cr2O3 materials could realize the densifieation sintering under 1 010 Pa and 10. 1 Pa of oxygen partial pressure. The chromium powder addition in Cr2O3 materials shouldn＇t be excessive, otherwise, the expansion reaction occupies a dominant position, which deteriorates the properties of the materials.

Thermodynamic Properties of Non-Oxide Composite Refractories

For initiative application of non-oxides in refractories, it is essential to study thermodynamic properties of non-oxides. The stability and stable order of non-ox- ides under oxidized atmosphere are analyzed firstly and then a new process, “converse reaction sintering”, is proposed. The results of study on oxidation mechanism of silicon and aluminum nitrides indicate that the gaseous suboxides can be produced observably when the oxygen partial pressure is lower than “conversion oxygen partial pressure”. The suboxides can be deposited near the surface of composite to become a compact layer. This causes the material possessing a performance of “self-impedient oxidation”. Metal Si and Al are the better additives for increasing the density and width of compact layer and increasing the ability of anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion. The study on Si3 N4-Al2O3, Si3N4-MgO, Si3 N4-SiC systems is also enumerated as examples in the paper. The experimental results show that the converse reaction sintering is able to make high performance composites and metal Si and Al not only can promote the sintering but also increase the density and width of compact layer.

Effect of Si_3N_4 on Resistance of Magnesia Based Castable

The magnesia based curable specimens with different Si3N4 contents were casted using sintered magnesite （w（MgO）=95%） as starting material, SiO2 micro-powder as binder, 0.3%, 4% and 5% β-Si3N4 powder replacing the equal addition of magnesia powder respectively. The slag resistance test was carried out at 1550℃ for 3h using Baosteel tundish slag and static crucible method. The result indicates that： introducing Si3N4 could obviously improve the slag resistance of MgO based castable, which increased with increasing Si3N4. Dense SiO2 sintered layer formed on the surface of magnesia based castable because of the oxidation of Si3N4 addition, which can prevent the further slag penetration. In the deep inner of castable, the partial-pressure of oxygen was very low, so Si3N4 can exist stably. Meanwhile in reducing atmosphere, Si3N4 was hard to be sintered, which resulted in the loose interior structure of MgO based castable.