Carbon fibre-reinforced silicon nitride composite

Abstract

The processing of silicon nitride reinforced with carbon fibre was studied. The problems of physical and chemical incompatibility between carbon fibre and the silicon nitride matrix were solved by addition of a small amount of zirconia to the matrix and by low-temperature hot-pressing. The composite material possesses a much higher toughness than hot-pressed silicon nitride. Its work of fracture increased from 19.3 J m−2 for unreinforced Si3N4, to 4770 J m−2; its fracture toughness,K lc , increased from 3.7 MN m−3/2 for unreinforced material, to 15.6 MN m−3/2. The strength remains about the same as unreinforced Si3N4 and the thermal expansion coefficient is only 2.51×10−6 ° C−1 (RT to 1000° C). It is anticipated that this composite may be promising because of its mechanical and good thermal shock-resistance properties.