Silicon Nitride - Production and Applications

Multi Lab

Silicon Nitride is a man-made nonmetallic compound that is usually in dark grey color and can be polished to create a reflective surface. The material has various industrial applications nowadays due to its improvement throughout the year.

The production of silicon nitride involves well-developed methods and each method’s end result depends on the method.

1. Reaction-bonded Silicon Nitride (RBSN)

The heating of compact silicon powder in a nitrogen gas atmosphere makes reaction-bonded silicon nitride. This material hardening process undergoes at 1450° called nitriding. The material has the key properties of capacity to be framed into complex shapes easily. The cost-effective porous material has various applications like nozzles.

2. Hot Pressed Silicon Nitride

The hot pressing of silicon nitride makes nearly zero porosity and exceptional strength shows good resistance to thermal shock and good thermal conductivity.

3. Sintered reaction-bonded Silicon Nitride (SRBSN)

SRBSN which is an upgraded version has reduced porosity. The process requires a long nitriding time at a temperature of more than 1800° and have shown improvements to impact resistance and toughness.

4. Sintered Silicon Nitride (SSN)

The process occurs at the pressure less sintering at 1750° with additives such as aluminium oxide and magnesium oxide in a nitrogen atmosphere to aid densification. SSN offers the best mechanical properties.

Applications of Silicon Nitride

Due to its outstanding chemical-physical properties and, it has various applications in chemical, metallurgy, and machinery industries. It is used in making cutting tools and sprays pipes for missiles. As its bearing rollers can withstand high stress, silicon nitride is used in automotive engine parts. Silicon nitride has also been used in high-temperature applications.

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/multi-lab/message