Abstract
Lu 2Si 2O 7–Si 3N 4 and Lu 4Si 2O 7N 2–Si 3N 4 composition ceramics were hot-pressed sintered. Microstructure was characterized by using scanning electron microscope and quantitative image analysis. The Lu 2Si 2O 7–Si 3N 4 composition showed a fine-grained microstructure with average grain diameter size of 0.27 μm, whereas the grains of Lu 4Si 2O 7N 2–Si 3N 4 composition were coarser with an average grain diameter of 0.48 μm. On the other hand, fracture toughness of the two compositions was evaluated by means of Vickers indentation crack size measurements. Fracture toughness of Lu 4Si 2O 7N 2–Si 3N 4 composition was greater than that of Lu 2Si 2O 7–Si 3N 4 composition. The greater fracture toughness for Lu 4Si 2O 7N 2–Si 3N 4 composition was predominantly caused by increase in grain size and volume fraction of needle-like Si 3N 4 grains compared with Lu 2Si 2O 7–Si 3N 4 composition.
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