Synergistic Reinforcement of Si3N4 Based Ceramics Fabricated via Multiphase Strengthening under Low Temperature and Short Holding Time

Si3N4 ceramic as a tool material shows promising application prospects in high-speed machining fields; however, the required high mechanical properties and low-cost preparation of Si3N4 ceramic tool materials restrict its application. Herein, synergistic reinforced Si3N4 ceramic tool materials were fabricated by adding beta-Si3N4 seeds, inexpensive Si3N4 whiskers and TiC particles into coarse commercial Si3N4 powder (D-50 = 1.5 mu m), then sintering by hot-pressing with low temperature and short holding time (1600 degrees C-30 min-40 MPa). The phase assemblage, microstructure evolution and toughening mechanisms were investigated. The results reveal that the sintered Si3N4 ceramics with synergistic reinforcement, compared to those with individual reinforcement, present an enhancement in relative density (from 94.92% to 97.15%), flexural strength (from 467.56 +/- 36.48 to 809.10 +/- 45.59 MPa), and fracture toughness (from 8.38 +/- 0.19 to 10.67 +/- 0.16 MPa<middle dot>m(1/2)), as well as a fine Vickers hardness of 16.86 +/- 0.19 GPa. Additionally, the various reinforcement modes of Si3N4 ceramics including intergranular fracture, crack deflection, crack bridging and whiskers extraction were observed in crack propagation, arising from the contributions of the added beta-Si3N4 seeds, Si3N4 whiskers and TiC particles. This work is expected to serve as a reference for the production of ceramic cutting tools.