Improved sinterability of SiC(w)/Si3N4 composites by whisker-oriented alignment

Effects of whisker-oriented alignment on sintering behavior of SiC(w)/Si3N4 composites were investigated by sintering curves of SiC(w)/Si3N4 compacts with different whisker alignment (random and unidirectionally oriented). It was found that whisker-oriented alignment led to considerable anisotropy of linear shrinkage and sintering rate of SiC(w)/Si3N4 compacts during sintering. Whisker-oriented alignment could improve the sinterability of the SiC(w)/Si3N4 composites and consequently improve the maximum fraction of whisker addition and reduce the content of sintering additives without obviously lowering the density, which are more beneficial to exert the best reinforcing effects of whiskers and mechanical properties of SiC(w)/Si3N4 composites at elevated temperature.