Hot-pressed Si3N4-SiC Whisker Composites

Silicon carbide whisker-silicon nitride matrix composites were hot pressed at 1750 °C and 30 MPa pressure for 1h. The effect of the addition of 20 and 30 vol. % of whiskers on densification behaviour, microstructural development, strength, fracture toughness, Young's modulus, microhardness and thermal expansion have been evaluated. Composition-processing-microstructure-prop­erties relationships are discussed.