Solid solutions formed by silicon nitride, known as SiAlONs, were prepared using different additives, such as AlN-Y2O3 or AlN-CRE2O3. The mixed oxide CRE2O3 is a solid solution formed by Y2O3 and rare-earth oxides. The high-resolution X-ray diffraction results of the sintered material show the formation of a solid solution. No segregation of second phases was detected. The similarities of structural, morphological and mechanical properties among SiAlONs prepared from different additives containing Y2O3 or CRE2O3 show the possibility of the production of alpha-SiAlON using CRE2O3 rather than Y2O3 as additive at lower cost.
SiAlON; mixed oxide; high-resolution X-ray diffraction; synchrotron; structure refinement; Rietveld method
