Crystallization of In-Situ SiC-Mullite Composites from Multicomponent Alumina-Silica Gels

Abstract

Silica and alumina gels were mixed to make a hybrid of a mullite precursor gel and a silicon carbide precursor gel. The crystallization of these above 1400 °C, to form in-situ composites of silicon carbide whiskers in a matrix of mullite, cristobalite and a glassy phase, was studied for different processing conditions.

Whiskers

“…This ''chemical mixing process'' route was also followed by YAMADA et al for in situ preparation of SiC(w) -Si 3 N 4 composites [54]. JAGOTA and PARVIZI-MAJIDI used sol -gel processing to produce in situ composites of SiC whiskers in a mullite matrix [55]. This was achieved by mixing mullite precursor gel with carbon-doped silica gel and crystallization above 1400 C.…”