An Annotated Bibliography on Silicon Nitride for Structural Applications

Abstract

Abstract : The increasing demand for engineering materials in high-temperature applications has led to investigation of the use of ceramic materials in such applications. Silicon nitride has emerged as a ceramic material having outstanding corrosion resistance, thermal shock resistance, mechanical properties and chemical properties. Although the requirements for increasingly higher operating temperatures (1400C) for gas turbines have created much of the interest in silicon nitride, there are other potential high temperature applications such as bearings and radomes for which silicon nitride is also under consideration. The time period emphasized in the bibliography is 1961- 1978, however, material prior to this period, as well as a few historic references, are included. The scope of this bibliography includes work reported in the literature on the fabrication and properties of reaction-sintered and hot-pressed silicon nitride, particularly as it applies to structural uses. Also included is work on silicon oxynitride and Si-M type oxynitrides having the silicon nitride structure. Whisker growth, chemical reactions, mechanical behavior, and other related topics relevant to the processing and applications of silicon nitride are also included. (Author)