Effect of mechanically activated raw materials on β-sialon formation by combustion synthesis

The influence of different raw material mixtures on β-sialon (Si_6−zAl_zO_zN_8−z, 1 ⩽ z ⩽ 4) formation through mechanical activation coupled combustion synthesis (MA-CS) was investigated in low nitriding atmosphere of 1 MPa without diluent inclusions. The MA-CS performed for the first time on sialon raw materials with milling time of 18 min obtained sialons more than three times as pure as those obtained by CS of mixtures ball milled to 1 h (z = 3). The starting materials containing silicon, aluminum, and alumina (z = 4) after MA-CS had an increment of sialon amounts up to 88 mass%.