Hard and tough novel high-pressure γ-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) ceramic nanocomposites

Cubic silicon nitride(-Si_(3)N_(4))is superhard and one of the hardest materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride(cBN),but has higher thermal stability in an oxidizing environment than diamond,making it a competitive candidate for technological applications in harsh conditions(e.g.,drill head and abrasives).Here,we report the high-pressure synthesis and characterization of the structural and mechanical properties of a γ-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) ceramic nanocomposite derived from single-phase amorphous silicon(Si)-hafnium(Hf)-nitrogen(N)precursor.The synthesis of the-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) nanocomposite is performed at~20 GPa and ca.1500 ℃ in a large volume multi anvil press.The structural evolution of the amorphous precursor and its crystallization to-Si_(3)N_(4)/Hf_(3)N_(4) nanocomposites under high pressures is assessed by the in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction(ED-XRD)measurements at~19.5 GPa in the temperature range of ca.1000-1900℃.The fracture toughness(K_(IC))of the two-phase nanocomposite amounts~6/6.9 MPa·m^(1/2) and is about 2 times that of single-phaseγ-Si_(3)N_(4),while its hardness of ca.30 GPa remains high.This work provides a reliable and feasible route for the synthesis of advanced hard and tough-Si_(3)N_(4)-based nanocomposites with excellent thermal stabililty.

Boron-modified perhydropolysilazane towards facile synthesis of amorphous SiBN ceramic with excellent thermal stability

SiBN ceramics are widely considered to be the most promising material for microwavetransparent applications in harsh environments owing to its excellent thermal stability and low dielectric constant.This work focuses on the synthesis and ceramization of single-source precursors for the preparation of SiBN ceramics as well as the investigation of the corresponding microstructural evolution at high temperatures including molecular dynamic simulations.Carbon-and chlorine-free perhydropolysilazanes were reacted with borane dimethyl sulfide complex at different molar ratios to synthesize single-source precursors,which were subsequently pyrolyzed and annealed under N2 atmosphere(without ammonolysis)to prepare SiBN ceramics at 1100,1200,and 1300℃with high ceramic yield in contrast to previously widely-used ammonolysis synthesis process.The obtained amorphous SiBN ceramics were shown to have remarkably improved thermal stability and oxidation resistance compared to amorphous silicon nitride.Particularly,the experimental results have been combined with molecular dynamics simulation to further study the amorphous structure of SiBN and the atomic-scale diffusion behavior of Si,B,and N at 1300℃.Incorporation of boron into the Si–N network is found to suppress the crystallization of the formed amorphous silicon nitride and hence improves its thermal stability in N2 atmosphere.