Abstract: A dense, substantially glass free, SiAlON ceramic material and method of making such material. The material has at least an alpha-SiAlON phase and a beta-SiAlON phase and exhibits excellent high temperature oxidation resistance and strength, good room temperature toughness and hardness, and a density greater than at least 95 percent of theoretical. The method of making the ceramic material is simple and includes adding AlN in an amount sufficient to allow formation of a desired amount of alpha-SiAlON, and in addition, convert SiO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 into the beta-SiAlON phase, preferably, by adding AlN in an amount between about 1.3X+0.08Y-0.0045XY and about 1.3X+0.2Y-0.0024XY, wherein X is a weight percent of the SiO.sub.2 based on total weight of the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 in the mixture and Y is a weight percent of alpha-SiAlON phase desired.

Abstract: This invention is a multi-phase SiAlON composite having a first alpha-SiAlON phase prepared from a multi-cationic mixture including oxides and nitrides of strontium, at least one of yttrium or a rare earth metal, and at least one other metal such as Ca, Mg, Li or Na. The composite also has a second phase of beta-SiAlON, and a material of a third phase of intergranular amorphous morphology including Si, Al, O, and N combined with a mixture of strontium, at least one of Ca, Mg, Li or Na and at least one of yttrium or a rare earth element. The multi-phase SiAlON exhibits excellent strength, fracture toughness, hardness, creep resistance and oxidation resistance. The material is useful for high wear, high temperature machine or engine components and tools.

Abstract: A method for deforming a ceramic compound by doping a zirconia ceramic material with an effective amount of a transition metal and superplastically deforming the material.

Abstract: A fully densified, self-reinforced silicon nitride ceramic body of high fracture toughness and high fracture strength is disclosed comprising (a) .beta.-silicon nitride in the form of whiskers having an average aspect ratio of at least about 2.5, and (b) a crystalline grain boundary phase having an oxynitride apatite structure, as determined by X-ray crystallography.A process for preparing the above identified silicon nitride body comprising hot-pressing a powder mixture containing silicon nitride; silica; a densification aid including strontium oxide; a conversion aid, such as, yttrium oxide; and a compound, such as, calcium oxide which enhances growth of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers, under conditions such that densification and the in situ formation of .beta.-silicon nitride whiskers having a high aspect ratio occur, and thereafter annealing the densified composition for a time sufficient to produce a crystalline grain boundary phase having an oxynitride apatite structure.