Mechanical and Thermal Properties of β′‐Sialon Prepared by a Slip Casting Method

Various mechanical and thermal properties of β′‐sialon ceramics, Si 6–z Al z O z N 8–z , prepared from aqueous slurries by a slip casting method were investigated as a function of Z values from 0 to 4. In the present study, Si 6–z Al z O z N 8–z occurred in the β′‐sialon crystalline phase only near Z = 1. The maximum values for bending strength and fracture toughness, 660 MPa and 5.7 MPa·m 1/2 , respectively, were obtained at Z = 0.5. The thermal expansion coefficient exhibited its lowest value, 3.4 × 10 −6 · T −1 , at Z = 0.5. In view of the present results, β′‐sialon, Si 6–z Al z O z N 8–z (Z = 0.5–1), prepared by a slip casting method using aqueous slurries could be adopted, with no problem, for refractory parts.