Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vvkck Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T23:52:23.671Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Batch Process for Microwave Sintering of Si3N4

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

M.C.L. Patterson
Affiliation:
Alcan International Limited, Kingston Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 8400, Kingston, ontario, CanadaK7L 5L9
P.S. Apte
Affiliation:
Alcan International Limited, Kingston Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 8400, Kingston, ontario, CanadaK7L 5L9
R.M. Kimber
Affiliation:
Alcan International Limited, Kingston Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 8400, Kingston, ontario, CanadaK7L 5L9
R. Roy
Affiliation:
Alcan International Limited, Kingston Research and Development Centre, P.O. Box 8400, Kingston, ontario, CanadaK7L 5L9
Get access

Abstract

A method for sintering silicon nitride using microwave energy at 2.45 GHz is described. Sintering takes place in air, in times of between 30 and 120 minutes and has been scaled up to give isothermal conditions over a batch size of 150 mm diameter by 200 mm in height and weighs approximately 1.0 kg. Additions of 5% alumina and 5% yttria result in a sintered product density of approximately 97% of theoretical, with a density variation better than:±0.5% throughout the batch.

It has been estimated that a load of 7.0 kg can be conventionally sintered using a 12 hour cycle and an energy consumption of 19.7 kWh/kg. In contrast with microwave energy, a batch of 540 g can be sintered in 120 minutes with an energy consumption of approximately 3.1 kWh/kg. This results in a possible energy savings of up to 78% for microwave heating.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.NTIS Department of Commerce, Ceramic Technology for Advanced Heat Engines Project Semiannual Progress Report for October 1989 through March 1990. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sept. 1990.Google Scholar
2. Pickup, H., Ph.D. Thesis, University of Leeds, 1988.Google Scholar
3. Wotting, G., and Ziegler, G., Interceram (2), 3236, (1986).Google Scholar
4. Apte, P.S., Patterson, M.C.L., Roy, R., Kimber, R.M. and Mitchell, D.N., PCT International publication No. WO 91/05747, 2nd May, 1991.Google Scholar
5. Patterson, M.C.L., Apte, P.S., Kimber, R.M. and Roy, R., “Mechanical and Physical Properties of Microwave Sintered Si3N4”, this proceedings.Google Scholar
6. Sutton, W., Ceramic Bulletin, 68, (2), 376386, (1989).Google Scholar
7. Salsman, J.B., in Microwave Processing of Materials II, edited by Snyder, W.B. Jr, Sutton, W.H., Iskander, M.F. and Johnson, D. Lynn, (Mater.Res.Soc.Proc., JIM, Pittsburg PA, 1990), pp. 509515.Google Scholar
8. Patterson, M.C.L., Kimber, R.M., and Apte, P.S., in Microwave Processing of Materials II, edited by Snyder, W.B. Jr, Sutton, W.H., Iskander, M.F. and Johnson, D. Lynn, (Mater.Res.Soc.Proc., 189, Pittsburg, PA, 1990), pp. 257266.Google Scholar
9. Janney, M.A., and Kimrey, H.D., in Ceramic Transactions. Ceramic Powder Science. ILA, Edited, Messing, G.L., Fuller, E.R. Jr, and Hausner, H., (Am. Cer. Soc., Westerville, OH. 1988), pp. 919924.Google Scholar
10. Meek, T.T., Blake, R.D., and Petrovic, J.J., Ceram. Eng. Sci. Proc., 8, (7-8), pp. 861871, (1987).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Kimrey, H.D., and Janney, M.A., in Microwave Processing of Materials II. edited by Sutton, W.H., Brooks, M.H. and Chabinsky, I.J., (Mater. Res. Soc. Proc., 124, Pittsburg PA, 1990), pp. 367372.Google Scholar
12. Patterson, M.C.L., Roy, R.V., Kimber, R.M., and Apte, P.S., Filed Patent but not Published, PCT.CA92100031.Google Scholar
13. Apte, P.S., and Pant, A., U.S. Patent No. 5 010 220, (23rd April, 1991).Google Scholar
14. Komatsu, M., and Miyano, T., U.S. Patent No. 4 911 870, (March 27th, 1990).Google Scholar
15. Raghavan, N.S., (private communication).Google Scholar