SILICON NITRIDE-TITANIUM NITRIDE COMPOSITE SINTERED BODY AND ITS PRODUCTION

摘要

PURPOSE:To produce a silicon nitride-based sintered body having simultaneously enhanced strength and fracture toughness, especially a silicon nitride-titanium nitride composite sintered body. CONSTITUTION:This silicon nitride-titanium nitride composite sintered body has 45-95vol.% silicon nitride content and contains fine titanium nitride particles dispersed in the matrix phase consisting of silicon nitride and silicon carbide and/or a grain boundary glass phase. When this sintered body is produced, an org. precursor of silicon nitride contg. titanium or a mixture of the precursor with silicon nitride powder is heat-treated in an atmosphere of nitrogen or ammonia and the resulting silicon nitride-titanium nitride crystalline composite fine powder is mixed with a sintering aid and sintered.