Method of increasing impact strength of silicon nitride

摘要

A method is described for increasing the impact properties of dense silicon nitride articles. The method includes the application of a slurry composed predominately of silicon powder to the surface of the dense silicon nitride article. The slurry coated article is then nitrided at an elevated temperature to partially convert the silicon powder to silicon nitride and to bond the particles together and to the substrate. About 15 to 45 volume percent of the silicon powder is not converted to silicon nitride but remains as elemental silicon.