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Tailoring of Mechanical Properties of Si3N4 Ceramics pp 275–289Cite as

Compositions and Thicknesses of Grain Boundary Films in Ca-Doped Silicon Nitride Ceramics

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSE,volume 276))

Abstract

Nanobeam analytical electron microscopy and high-resolution electron microscopy have been used to characterize both the local composition as well as the thickness of the amorphous intergranular silicate-rich film in high-purity Si3N4 ceramics doped with different levels of Ca impurities. Grain boundary films could be detected in all ceramics. The films always contained Si (cation) and O and N (anions). Ca was detected at both grain boundary junctions and triple junctions for all materials doped with different levels of Ca. The thickness h of the intergranular films depends sensitively on the Ca content. In undoped materials h is 1.0±0.1 nm. With increasing Ca content the thickness h decreased for a dopant of 80 ppm Ca but increased with further additions of Ca. Variations in film thickness and composition can be semi-quantitatively understood in terms of different long-range interatomic forces acting normal to the film.

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Author notes

  1. I. Tanaka

    Present address: Department of Metallurgy, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606, Japan

  2. J. Bruley

    Present address: Materials Science Department, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015-3195, USA

  3. H.-J. Kleebe

    Present address: Institut für Materialforschung, Universität Bayreuth, Ludwig-Thoma-Str. 36b, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany

  4. R. M. Cannon

    Present address: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

  5. D. R. Clarke

    Present address: Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Institut für Werkstoffwissenschaft, Seestr. 92, D-70174, Stuttgart, Germany

    I. Tanaka, J. Bruley, H. Gu, M. J. Hoffmann, H.-J. Kleebe, R. M. Cannon, D. R. Clarke & M. Rühle

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  1. I. Tanaka
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  4. M. J. Hoffmann
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  5. H.-J. Kleebe
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  6. R. M. Cannon
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  7. D. R. Clarke
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  8. M. Rühle
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Institut für Werkstoffwissenschaft, Pulvermetallurgisches Laboratorium, Heisenbergstr. 5, D - 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Michael J. Hoffmann  & Günter Petzow  & 

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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Tanaka, I. et al. (1994). Compositions and Thicknesses of Grain Boundary Films in Ca-Doped Silicon Nitride Ceramics. In: Hoffmann, M.J., Petzow, G. (eds) Tailoring of Mechanical Properties of Si3N4 Ceramics. NATO ASI Series, vol 276. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0992-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0992-5_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4430-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0992-5

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