Effect of Sm₂O₃ additives on the rod-like β-Si₃N₄ crystal of porous silicon nitride fabricated by reaction-bonded

Sm₂O₃ and MgO as a sintering additives to fabricated porous silicon nitride by reaction-bonded. The phase of as-produced silicon nitride characterized by XRD-diffraction. The microstructure of product was investigated by SEM. The samples were machined into test bar for flexural strength testing. Using Archimedes theory testing the porosity of porous silicon nitride. MgO have restrain effect on the growth of rod-like silicon nitride, because of produce a restrain layer which is MgO reacted with SiO₂ on the surface of silicon., the microstructure of crystal is particle like, the maximum flexural strength is 48MPa with porosity of 35%. Sm₂O ₃ can assistant the growth of high aspect ratio Si₃N ₄ crystal at beginning temperature of 1300°C for it's low melt point and low viscidity in liquid state, the as-product's morphology is rod-like and the flexural strength is as high as 300 MPa when the porosity is 30%, high than the sample that of low rod-like crystal content.