Effect of temperature and heating rate on the sintering performance of SiC-Al2O3-Dy2O3 and SiC-Al2O3-Yb2O3 systems

Samples of SiC + 10 vol%(Al2O3 + Dy2O3) and SiC + 10 vol%(Al2O3 + Yb2O3) mixtures were obtained by cold isostatic pressing and sintered for one hour in a dilatometer at 1800 degrees C and 1900 degrees C, applying heating rates of 10, 20 and 30 degrees C/min. The results of the complete sintering cycle indicated that the heating rates do not significantly influence the shrinkage, but that temperature and total sintering time may be relevant factors. The compacts sintered at 1900 degrees C shrank on average 9% more than those sintered at 1800 degrees C, and it was found that the sintering time can be reduced by 40-50% at faster heating rates. The maximum shrinkage rates occurred at temperatures lower than those of the sintering thresholds for the two mixtures, two temperatures and three heating rates. It was also found that after formation of the liquid, the mechanisms of particle rearrangement and solution-precipitation were not as fast as reported in the literature, even at high heating rates, for example 30 degrees C/min, but they are responsible for much of the shrinkage occurring throughout the sintering cycle. (AU)