Synthesis of Rod-Like High-Purity β-Sialon Powder by a Novel Carbothermal Reduction-Nitridation Method with a Nanocasting Procedure

Abstract

Rod-like high-purity β-Sialon(Si6−zAlzOzN8−z, z=1,2,3) powders were synthesized from the mesoporous SiO2/C/Al2O3 composites, that were prepared using a nanocasting procedure, through a carbothermal reduction–nitridation method at 1420°C. The XRD analysis provided considerable evidence regarding the high purity of resultant β-Sialon powders with various z-values. In SEM observation, it was also found that the particle morphology of the resultant product is nearly the same as that of the parent SBA-15 (SiO2 source). The resultant rod-like β-Sialon powders may provide the ceramic composites with an ideal enhancement material.