The role of the grain boundaries in hot pressing silicon carbide

Abstract

Silicon carbide is difficult to sinter without the aid of additives and/or pressure. Additions of boron carbide, boron or alumina were made to obtain dense materials. This is explained in terms of surface free energy modifications taking place in the grain boundaries. An expression of the chemical potential over the grain boundaries is developed to show that there is no theoretical limitation for the sintering of covalent ceramics if the grain size of the starting powder is small enough.