Pressurelessly sintering silicon carbide with additives of holmium oxide and alumina

SiC with mixtures of Al2O3 and Ho2O3 additions were effective in densifying SiC. The density of 96% of theoretical density was achieved with the Ho2O3 and Al2O3 eutectic composition. It is suggested that the improvement in density is due to liquid phase formed between Al2O3 and Ho2O3. Some mechanical properties of samples with additives of eutectic composition are also measured.