Densification, Microstructure and Crystallization Mechanisms of MA-SiBCN Bulk Materials

Sintering, the oldest but probably an everlasting technique to produce density and microstructure-controlled materials and components from metallic and/or ceramic powders by applying, in general, thermal energy. The MA-SiBCN powder is difficult to be sintered due to the low coefficients of atomic diffusion. Consequently, their full densification is usually achieved by adding aids and/or sintering using high mechanical pressure and high temperature. Sintering of MA-SiBCN generally occurs when packed amorphous nanoparticles are heated to a temperature where there is sufficient atomic motion to grow bonding particles. Pores, particle sizes, second phases and a host of processing variables have all an important impact on many of the final properties of MA-SiBCN bulk materials.