Mechanical properties and microstructure of porous BN–SiO2–Si3N4 composite ceramics

Porous silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics incorporated with hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles were fabricated by pressureless-sintering at relatively low temperature, in which stearic acid was used as pore-making agent. Bending strength at room and high temperatures, thermal shock resistance, fracture toughness, elastic modulus, porosity and microstructure were investigated in detail. The mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance behavior of porous Si3N4 ceramics were greatly influenced by incorporation of BN and SiO2 nanoparticles. Porous BN–SiO2–Si3N4 composites were successfully obtained with good critical thermal shock temperature of 800 °C, high bending strength (130 MPa at room temperature and 60 MPa at 1000 °C) and high porosity.