Characterization of silicon nitride single crystals and polycrystalline reaction sintered silicon nitride by microhardness measurements

Abstract

Identification of α- and β-phases of Si₃N₄ single crystals grown from Si melt could be made with the help of Vickers microhardness measurements. The effect of chemical additives, e.g. metallic Fe and BaF₂, on the microhardness of Si₃N₄ was also determined. Different constants involved in the empirical Meyer relationship between load and indentation diameters could be correlated with the porosity and microhardness of Si₃N₄ single crystals and polycrystalline, reaction sintered Si₃N₄.