Effect of additions of coarse grains and fibers on the densification of a sinterable SiC

This note reports the effects on densification of independent additions of coarse equiaxed SiC grains and fibrous SiC that were mixed with fine beta-SiC to develop a duplex microstructure with improved toughness. The fine-matrix SiC did not contain excess boron and carbon. The equiaxed CVD beta-SiC was introduced in the fine beta-SiC matrix material in amounts of 5 and 10 wt%. Results indicate that the CVD beta-SiC, which is quite coarse, exhibits little indication of sinterability. The effect of these coarse-grained and fibrous additions on the sinterability of fine beta-SiC may result from a geometric type of interaction. This interpretation is reinforced by X-ray diffraction of the powders and sintered pellets via monochromatic CuK-alpha radiation; the diffraction patterns of the sintered composite structures are virtually a combination of those of the components. The addition of nonsinterable SiC to the sinterable material slightly reduces sinterability, the larger particles interacting geometrically with the fine matrix material to prevent complete densification.