Porous Si3N4 Ceramics Prepared by TBA-based Gel-casting

In this work, the effects of ratio of monomer to cross-linker (AM/MBAM) and solid loading on the microstructure and mechanical properties of porous Si3N4 ceramics prepared by tert-butyl alcohol (TBA)-based gel-casting process were investigated. It was found that, when the ratio of monomer to cross-linker was 8, and the solid loading was 50 wt%, the mechanical properties of sintered samples were the most excellent, which resulted from the uniform pore size distribution and well-grown rod-like β-Si3N4 grains. In that case, the porosity and flexural strength of sintered samples were 50% and 125 MPa, respectively.