METHOD OF PREPARING POWDER INGREDIENTS FOR SUBSEQUENT CONSOLIDATION

摘要

A method of making a compacted body useful in the fabrication of an improved, fully densified Si3N4 ceramic is disclosed. Silicon powder, oxygen carrying agents, and a dry lubricant are admixed. The lubricant is selected to have a low surface energy value, less than 15 dyne/cm, and have a glass transition temperature of -54 to -82.degree.C. The admixture is milled to a desired average particle size no greater than 35 microns. The milled mixture is then formed into a compact which can be nitrided and hot pressed to form a fully dense Si3N4 object.