The corrosion resistance of Si3N4 ceramics with 14 and 21 vol.% of Y2O3/SiO2 and RE2O3/SiO2 mixtures as additive, both in the stoichiometry of disilicates Y2 Si2O7 and RE2Si2O7, respectively, has been investigated in 0.1N HCl solutions. Samples were prepared by a two step gas pressure sintering process, under a final N2 pressure of 10 MPa and a maximum temperature of 1850 °C for 30 min. The corrosion resistance was evaluated by the mass change of polished samples and chemical analysis of the solutions after the tests. Analysis by electron microscopy showed that the glassy intergranular phase is dissolved by the acid solution, leaving a skeleton of interlinked b -Si3N4 grains.
silicon nitride; corrosion; rare-earth; yttria
