Densification of nanosized amorphous and crystalline silicon nitride powders

The hot-pressing behavior of two amorphous and three crystalline silicon ni tride powders, including both experimental and commercial samples has been investigated in the presence of MgO-Y2O3 sintering aid. The powders were ch aracterized in terms of bulk and surface chemistry, phase composition and m orphology. The sintering behavior was assessed on the basis of green and fi nal densities, weight loss on densification and chemical and phase composit ions of the dense material. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.