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Jonathan A. Salem
Lewis Research Center
Cleveland,, Ohio
January 1990
G3/_7 025(_4_
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STRENGTH AND TOUGHNESS OF MONOLITHIC AND COMPOSITE
SILICON NITRIDES*
Jonathan A. Salem
National Aeronautlcs and Space Administration
Lewis Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
SUMMARY
The strength and toughness of two composite and two monolithic silicon
nitrldes were measured from 25 to 1400 °C. The monolithic and composite mate-
rials were made from similar starting powders. Both of the composite materi-
als contained 30 vol % silicon carbide whiskers. All measurements were made
by four-polnt flexure in surrounding alr and humidity. The composite and mono-
llthlc materials exhibited similar fast fracture properties as a function of
temperature.
INTRODUCTION
The need for more fuel efficient transportation and lower engine emls-
sions has made ceramics increasingly important structural materials. Ceramics
offer many beneficial properties, such as high-temperature strength, low
density, and low thermal conductivity. However, they exhibit low toughness
and low rellablllty.
One approach that may improve the toughness, crack growth resistance and
reliability of monolithic silicon nltride is the addltlon of whiskers or fib-
ers. Whiskers may bridge developing cracks and thereby Impart toughness,
crack growth and creep reslstance. The objective of this work was to deter-
mine properties and structural behavior of developmental s11icon carbide
whlsker reinforced silicon nitrldes. Similar monolithic materials were also
studied to provide a general base of comparison.
Materials Processing
The materials used in this study were based on Garrett's GN-}O and a Nor-
ton monolithic silicon nltrlde. At the tlme of this study, composite versions
were not commercially available, however, limited quantities had been
processed.
Garrett Company GN-IO silicon nitride powder composition was slip cast
into 50 mm diameter, 75 mm helght billets, glass encapsulated by the ASEA I
method and HIPed to produce monolithic material. Part of the same powder
Mechanica] Testing
Nondestructive Evaluation
Bend Strength
In contrast, the Norton composite exhlblted higher strength than the cor-
respondlng monolithic at 25, 800, and 1200 °C, and similar strength at lO00
and 1400 °C (flg. 3). The low room temperature strength of the monolithlc was
attributed to the aforementioned density variations.
Fracture Toughness
The Garrett materials failed from porous regions, coarse grained regions,
and agglomerates (fig. 9). The failure initiating flaws in the Norton mono-
lithic were subsurface porous areas 30 to 60 _m across (fig. lO).
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
REFERENCES
]. Generazlo, E.R.; Roth, D.O.; and Baaklini, G.Y.: Acoustic Imaging of Sub-
tle Porosity Variations In Ceramics. Mater. Eva]., vo]. 46, no. lO, Sept.
1988, pp. 1338-1343.
3. Munz, D.; Bubsey, R.T.; and Shannon, J.L., Jr.: Fracture Toughness Deter-
mlnatlon of AI203 Using Four-Point-Bend Specimens with Straight-Through
and Chevron Notches. J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 63, no. 5-6, May-June 1980,
pp. 300-305.
4. Generazlo, E.R.; Stang, D.B.; and Roth, D.O.: Dynamic Poroslty Variatlons
In Ceramics. NASA TM-IOI340, 1988.
aComposite.
bMonolithic.
GARRETT BILLETS
Monolithic Composite
-I .0 1.084 1.082
-0.5 1.083 1.083
0.0 1.081 1.082
+0.5 1.077 1.082
+I .0 1.077 1.082
TABLE
IV. - STRENGTH
ANDTOUGHNESS WITH STANDARD DEVIATION
Material TemPerature, °C
Strength MPa
Garrett
Norton
Garrett
Norton
7
(a)sic_ Js_N4
(b) Si3N 4_
Figure 1. - X-ray radiographs of MOR bars machined from cylindrical billets of Garret_
materials. Dark zones imply higher density or constituents with greater x-ray absorption.
ORIGINAL PAGE
BI_ACK AND W_ITE pwOTr_A, PF1
(a) SiC w/Si 3 N 4.
(b) Si,3 N 4.
Figure 2. - X-ray radiographs of MOR bars machined from plates of Norton materials.
Dark zones Imply higher density or oonstituents with greater x-ray absorption.
[] MONOLITHIC
[] COMPOSITE
800.
700.
._ 600,
5O0.
400.
,Z 300.
rr
200.
100.
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOgrAPH
1 [] COMPOSITE
"-E
0 I I [ I I l l I l
25 800 1000 1200 1400 2S 8OO 1000 1200 1400
TEMPERATURE, °C TEMPERATURE, °C
(a) Garrett, (b) Norton.
(a)S5N4.
(b) SiCw/Si3N 4.
Figure 5. - Microstructure of Garrett materials: where darkest regions are Si3N 4, grey regions are SiC
whiskers, and light regions are tntergranular phase.
10 ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH
(a) Si3N 4.
U --,Ul
10 i.Lm
(b) SiCw/Si3N 4.
Figure 6. - Microslructure of Norton materials: where darkest regions are SiaN 4, grey regions are SIC
whiskers, and light regions are interangular phase.
11
Figure 7. - Whiskers in Garrett SiCw/Si3N 4 exposed via plasma etching.
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WH[,TE PHOTOGRAPH
12
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE F_OTO, CRApH
2O
(a) Garrett.
[
2o p.m
(b) Norton,
13
(c) Whiskerpulloutarounda failure originin Garrettcomposite.
Figure8. - Concluded.
ORIGINA, E PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH
14
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH
_" 15
(c) Porous region (composite).
Figure 9. - Concluded.
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH-
16
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH
17
(c) SiC chunk (composite).
ORIGINAL PAGE
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPN
18
National Aeronautics and Report Documentation Page
Space Administration
Strength and Toughness of Monolithic and Composite Silicon Nitrides January 1990
505-63-IM
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
11. Contract or Grant No.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lewis Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191 13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Technical Memorandum
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Prepared for Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Ceramic Technology for Advanced Heat Engines Project.
Interagency Agreement DE-AI05-87OR21749, W.B.S. Element 3.2.1.7.
16. Abstract
The strength and toughness of two composite and two monolithic silicon nitrides were measured from 25 to
1400 *C. The monolithic and composite materials were made from similar starting powders. Both of the
composite materials contained 30 vol % silicon carbide whiskers. All measurements were made by four-point
flexure in surrounding air and humidity. The composite and monolithic materials exhibited similar fast fracture
properties as a function of temperature.
19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No of pages 22. Price*
NASA FORM 1626 OCT 86 *For sale by the Nat ona Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161
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