High strength composite ceramic structure and process for producing the same

摘要

The present invention is a composite ceramic structure having a porosity of 5 to 40% by volume comprising particles selected from the group consisting of grains and whiskers of at least one inorganic compound AB, where B is oxygen, nitrogen or carbon and A is any metal so the difference in electronegativity between A and B is less than 1.7; or particles selected from the group consisting of grains and whiskers of an inorganic compound, where there is a difference of 1.7 and higher between the components, and having layers of the inorganic compound AB formed on the surfaces of the particles. The particles are bonded together by silicon nitride particles having an average particle size of less than 0.2 micron. The composite ceramic structure is produced by sintering a shape composed of particles of AB or composed of particles having layers of AB formed on the surfaces of the particles in a gaseous atmosphere containing silicon and nitrogen to grow silicon nitride particles on the surfaces of the shaped inorganic particles.