WO1996001229A1 - Method of nitriding silicon - Google Patents
Method of nitriding silicon Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996001229A1 WO1996001229A1 PCT/US1995/008418 US9508418W WO9601229A1 WO 1996001229 A1 WO1996001229 A1 WO 1996001229A1 US 9508418 W US9508418 W US 9508418W WO 9601229 A1 WO9601229 A1 WO 9601229A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- silicon
- nitriding
- containing material
- hydrogen
- heating
- Prior art date
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B21/00—Nitrogen; Compounds thereof
- C01B21/06—Binary compounds of nitrogen with metals, with silicon, or with boron, or with carbon, i.e. nitrides; Compounds of nitrogen with more than one metal, silicon or boron
- C01B21/068—Binary compounds of nitrogen with metals, with silicon, or with boron, or with carbon, i.e. nitrides; Compounds of nitrogen with more than one metal, silicon or boron with silicon
- C01B21/0682—Preparation by direct nitridation of silicon
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
- C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C04B35/00—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
- C04B35/515—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on non-oxide ceramics
- C04B35/58—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on non-oxide ceramics based on borides, nitrides, i.e. nitrides, oxynitrides, carbonitrides or oxycarbonitrides or silicides
- C04B35/584—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on non-oxide ceramics based on borides, nitrides, i.e. nitrides, oxynitrides, carbonitrides or oxycarbonitrides or silicides based on silicon nitride
- C04B35/591—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on non-oxide ceramics based on borides, nitrides, i.e. nitrides, oxynitrides, carbonitrides or oxycarbonitrides or silicides based on silicon nitride obtained by reaction sintering
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to a method of nitriding silicon.
- Silicon nitride has been a material of interest for many years due to its high temperature strength, creep resistance and low thermal expansion, as well as its extremely efficient resistance to corrosion and its ability to make critically engineered parts.
- reaction bonding comprises compacting silicon powder of commonly less than 400 mesh into the part commonly at ambient temperature and then exposing the part to molecular nitrogen at about 1400°C for a period of time sufficient to convert the silicon to silicon nitride such as disclosed in United States Patent 4,235,857, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such is also reviewed by A.J.
- Reaction bonded silicon nitride is commonly prepared by reacting and nitriding the silicon (either as a powder or as a formed article) with nitrogen by exposing the silicon to a nitrogen-containing atmosphere at temperatures of 1100°C to about 1420°C for times sufficient to produce the silicon nitride. It is not uncommon for the nitriding time in prior art methods to be about 100-200 hours. It is normal for a small amount of nitriding aid (e.g., iron oxide or nickel oxide) to be initially mixed with the silicon powder to enhance the nitridation of the silicon during the nitriding step.
- nitriding aid e.g., iron oxide or nickel oxide
- U.S. Patent No. 3,206,318 to Yamauchi et al. teaches a method of nitriding metallic silicon which lowers the ill effects of the oxidation of silicon nitride, in which the nitriding catalyst is (a) at least one primary substance selected from the group consisting of metallic vanadium, the inorganic compounds thereof, and mixtures thereof; or (b) that comprising (a) in which has been incorporated at least one secondary substance, selected from the group consisting of metallic cobalt, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, iron, barium, and calcium and the inorganic compounds thereof. Yamauchi, et al.
- a refractory article in which granular refractory material, such as alumina, is bonded with silicon nitride.
- the patent furthermore teaches that the oxides of the metals, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn and V, may
- U.S. Patent No. 4,351,787 to Martinengo et al. teaches that sintered silicon nitride articles can be prepared by forming a silicon powder mixture containing one or more sintering additives into a compact, the additives being present in the powder in an amount such as to ensure an additive content of from 0.5 to 20 wt % in the silicon nitride compact; heating the compact under a pure nitrogen gas blanket at a temperature not exceeding 1500°C to convert the silicon into reaction bonded silicon nitride; and sintering the reaction bonded silicon nitride compact by heating in a nitrogen gas atmosphere at a temperature of at least 1500°C.
- the silicon powder size is from 0.1 to 44 microns in size and of high purity or containing only very small amounts of nitriding catalysts.
- the Martinengo et al. patent teaches that any conventional sintering additive may be used. Best results are said to be achieved by using MgO, and especially in combination with Y 2 0 3 .
- Other preferred additives mentioned in the patent are MgO, Y 2 0 3 , Ce0 2 , Zr0 2 , BeO, Mg 3 N 2 , and A1N.
- Other examples of additives are given as Mg 2 Si, MgAl 2 0 4 , and rare earth additions such as La 2 0 3 .
- iron can be used with advantage, usually in mixture with conventional additives such as MgO, Y 2 0 3 , and Ce0 2 .
- a method of nitriding a silicon- containing material to form a silicon nitride material predominantly in the alpha phase includes (a) heating the silicon-containing material in an atmosphere containing at least hydrogen in the temperature range of from about 0°C to about 800°C and (b) thereafter nitriding the silicon-containing material by subjecting the silicon-containing material to a nitriding atmosphere at an elevated temperature to effect nitriding.
- Nitriding the silicon-containing material is preferably performed by heating the material in an atmosphere containing at least nitrogen in the temperature range of from about 1000°C to about 1450°C.
- the processes of this invention generally include nitriding a silicon-containing material by (a) heating the silicon-containing material in an atmosphere containing at least hydrogen and (b) thereafter, nitriding the silicon-containing material by heating the material in a nitriding atmosphere in the temperature range of from about 1000°C to about 1450°C.
- the silicon- containing material employed in this invention preferably includes silicon metal.
- the silicon-containing material may be in the form of powder or in a body formed by any method and may be processed by comminuting the silicon- containing material in water as taught by U.S.Patent 4,943,401, which patent is hereby incorporated by • reference. However, comminuting the silicon-containing material in water is not necessary to practice this invention.
- the atmosphere containing at least hydrogen preferably contains at least about 1 mole percent hydrogen, more preferably, at least about 5 mole percent, even more preferably, at least about 25 mole percent and, most preferably, the armosphere is 100 percent hydrogen.
- Heating the silicon-containing material in the presence of hydrogen is performed in the temperature range of from about 0°C to about 800°C, preferably, in the temperature range of from about 20°C to about 800°C.
- Heating in the presence of hydrogen is performed from a minimum temperature of about 200°C to a maximum temperature of from about 500°C to about 800°C.
- Nitriding the silicon- containing material generally forms a silicon nitride material predominantly in the alpha phase.
- the nitriding atmosphere contains at least nitrogen gas which may be in combination with at least one other nitriding gas.
- the composition of the nitriding atmosphere is preferably kept substantially constant even though nitrogen is being consumed during the nitriding step by maintaining a substantially constant partial pressure of nitrogen gas during the nitriding.
- the nitriding atmosphere containing at least nitrogen gas may include: (1) substantially pure nitrogen gas; (2) nitrogen and helium gases; (3) nitrogen, helium and hydrogen gases; (4) nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, and water vapor (5) nitrogen and hydrogen gases.
- the nitrogen is present from about
- the nitriding step is favorably performed while heating at an increasing temperature rate of from about 5°C-50°C per hour until an elevated temperature of about 1350°C to about 1450°C is reached.
- the nitriding step preferably begins at about 1000°C with an increasing temperature rate of about 5°C to about 50°C, more preferably at the rate of 15-25°C per hour.
- the increasing temperature rate during nitriding is preferably substantially linear but may be non-linear.
- the nitriding step is held between about 1350°C to about 1450°C for less than 2 hours once these temperatures have been achieved.
- the nitriding is preferably accomplished with a system pressure of from about a 1/2 atmosphere absolute up to about 2 atmospheres absolute.
- the nitriding gas composition in the furnace atmosphere is favorably kept constant by admitting substantially pure nitrogen gas into the furnace to maintain the slightly greater than atmospheric pressure.
- the upper temperature being from about 1350°C to about 1450°C, preferably 1420°C, that temperature is preferably maintained for less than about 1 hour and the heat source is shut off and the silicon nitride powder or articles are allowed to cool.
- Processed powder and compacted articles may be manufactured utilizing the above described processes. However, the greatest improvement in conversion to silicon nitride is experienced with pieces of silicon-containing material which have a minimum thickness of 1/2".
- Samples prepared by this method display excellent properties, low size distortion,; high material integrity, and high conversion to silicon nitride.
- a process for nitriding materials containing silicon which has been comminuted with water is disclosed, the comminuting being performed to enhance and allow substantial chemical reaction between the silicon and the water.
- Binders may also be employed with the silicon- containing materials to bind the silicon-containing particles together to enhance their being formed into parts. Examples of such binders include a mixture of butyl methacrylate and trichlorethylene disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
- the enhanced silicon-containg material is then nitrided by subjecting it to a nitriding atmosphere containing about 40 to about 60 mole percent nitrogen, from about 40 to about 60 mole percent helium, and from about 1 to about 4 mole percent hydrogen.
- a nitriding atmosphere containing about 40 to about 60 mole percent nitrogen, from about 40 to about 60 mole percent helium, and from about 1 to about 4 mole percent hydrogen.
- the nitriding begins at about 1000°C and occurs with a substantially linear upwardly increasing temperature rate of from about 5°C to about 50°C per hour to an elevated temperature of between about 1350°C to about 1450°C at a system pressure of from about one half to about two atmospheres absolute.
- the composition of the gas constituents of the nitriding atmosphere is maintained with a substantially constant partial pressure of nitrogen gas during the nitriding.
- Another process for nitriding materials containing silicon further may include the addition of up to about five percent water vapor in the nitriding atmosphere. This mode is useful with silicon-containing materials which have been drymilled or otherwise processed such that they do not contain the water-silicon product.
- Example 1 Added together in a ball mill are: (1) 100 pound commercial grade silicon metal powder ground to approximately 2.3 F.A.D. (Fisher Average Diameter) or finer, which is substantially less than 20 micron size; (2) 3 pounds micron size iron oxide Fe 2 0 3 ; (3) 68 pounds distilled water; and (4) 50 grams of dispersing aid, Darvan No. 1, a registered trademark of the R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. This slurry mixture is comminuted for 3 hours while venting the evolving gases (hydrogen and water vapor) every hour.
- F.A.D. Fisher Average Diameter
- Organic binders in conjunction with normal plasticizers and viscosity modifiers are preferably added to the ball mill approximately one hour before pumping the slip out of the mill. Then 1 1/2 pounds polyvinylalcohol (available from Air Products, Inc., Allentown, PA), 1/2 pound polyethylene glycol (CARBOWAX 1000 available from Union Carbide Corporation, New York, NY) , 1/4 pound xanthan gum (KELZAN, available from Kelco, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ) , and 1 pound food grade glycerol are added to the slurry in the ball mill and comminution is continued for about 1 hour.
- polyvinylalcohol available from Air Products, Inc., Allentown, PA
- CARBOWAX 1000 available from Union Carbide Corporation, New York, NY
- KELZAN 1/4 pound xanthan gum
- 1 pound food grade glycerol are added to the slurry in the ball mill and comminution is continued for
- the reacted slurry is transferred into a circulating tank and continuously circulated to keep the viscosity low by shearing, thereby keeping the slurry from gelling due to the presence of the xanthan gum.
- the slurry is then pumped into a spray dryer, and spray-dried.
- the collected spray-dried granules are screen-separated into three distinct particle size ranges.
- the particles that are greater than 30 mesh in size are set aside for recycling.
- the fine particles of less than 200 mesh are isopressed in an isopress machine to produce billets.
- the spray-dried granules of a size between 30 and 200 mesh are put into a dry press and pressed into green body parts. Due to the addition of the organic materials, the green body parts are easily machinable after isopressing or dry pressing without having to pre-sinter or pre-nitride to add strength to the silicon body.
- the pressed parts are then racked on saggers and put into a furnace.
- the furnace is evacuated to -100 KPa and then filled with pure hydrogen gas.
- the temperature of the furnace is then increased from room temperature to 800°C over a two hour period by a nearly linear progression of increasing temperature while flowing hydrogen through the furnace at atmospheric pressure to burn off the organic materials, and enhance the silicon metal for subsequent nitridation.
- the substantially non-toxic effluent which is vented includes carbon dioxide and water.
- the furnace is purged with flowing nitrogen to obtain a noncombustible atmosphere and then evacuated again to remove the nitrogen and any remaining effluent.
- Helium gas is added until a pressure of 50 KPa absolute is indicated.
- a nitrogen-hydrogen gas blend consisting of 4 weight percent hydrogen and 96 weight percent nitrogen is admitted to the furnace until the pressure is slightly above atmospheric pressure
- the resulting composition of the nitriding gas constituents nitrogen, helium and hydrogen in the nitriding gas are 48%, 50% and 2%, respectively.
- the temperature of the furnace is increased from 800°C to 1000°C.
- the temperature is then preferably increased from 1000°C to about 1420°C at a linear rate of about 20°C per hour.
- nitrogen is consumed by the silicon to form silicon nitride.
- the nitriding gas composition in the furnace atmosphere is kept constant by admitting pure nitrogen gas into the furnace as nitrogen is consumed during the conversion of the silicon to maintain a constant nitrogen partial pressure.
- the temperature is maintainedfor 1 hour; then the heat source is shut off and the silicon nitride articles are allowed to cool. Samples prepared by this method display excellent properties, low size distortion and high material integrity.
- Test bars of the reaction bonded silicon nitride may be made having dimensions of 0.100 x 0.320 x 2.25 inches.
- four-point modulus of rupture tests of such bars using conditions consisting of a lower span of 1.75 inches and an upper span of 0.60 inches with a loading rate of 0.02 inches/minute typical values for the density, the average four-point modulus of rupture (MOR) , and the range of MOR strengths are provided in Table 1.
- the nitriding atmosphere was introduced into the evacuated furnace.
- the composition of the nitriding atmosphere is also shown in Table 2.
- the temperature of the furnace was then increased linearly to 1450°C at a rate of approximately 15°C per hour.
- the power to the furnace was then turned off, and the furnace was allowed to cool wherein the nitrided billet was removed, weighed, and measured to determine its nitrided weight and dimensions.
- the ratio of the nitrided weight of the billet to the green weight of the billet is reported as the R-Factor in Table 2.
- the R-Factor is directly related to the amount of chemical conversion of the silicon metal in the billet to silicon nitride ceramic. The higher the R-Factor, the greater the amount of conversion of silicon metal to silicon nitride ceramic resulting from the nitridation.
- Composition* Composition* m 2 /N 2 1 IN 2 /He /H 2 1 1104 100/0 70/50/5 1.41 1113 50/50 70/50/5 1.35 1115 25/75 70/50/5 1.36 1122 0/100 70/50/5 1.22 1125 100/0 125/0/0 1.43 1211 100/0 120/0/5 1.41
- Example 2 For this example a spray-dried silicon metal powder mix similar to the one used in Example 2 was isopressed at 20,000 psi into billets and machined into three sizes of cylinders, the cylinders measuring approximately 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and 2 inches in diameter. The height of each cylinder was approximately equal to its diameter. Three cylinders, one of each size were processed together in each furnace run using the method of Example 2. Table 3 contains the details of the pre- nitridation and nitridation atmosphere compositions, the rate of nitridation, and the calculated R-Factor explained in Example 2. The first set of three runs listed used cylinders having a 1/2 inch diameter. The second set of three runs listed used cylinders having a 1 inch diameter.
- the third set of three runs listed used cylinders having a 2 inch diameter.
- the hydrogen pre-nitridation treatment in combination with a high nitrogen concentration in the nitridation atmosphere results in significantly higher R- Factors demonstrating higher chemical conversion of the silicon metal into silicon nitride ceramic.
- Composition* Composition* (°C/hr) jN 2 /He /H 2 j
- ⁇ Atmosphere composition ratios are expressed in partial pressures, measured in KPa
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP95925485A EP0782542A1 (en) | 1994-07-05 | 1995-07-05 | Method of nitriding silicon |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/270,613 US6007789A (en) | 1992-11-03 | 1994-07-05 | Method of nitriding silicon |
US08/270,613 | 1994-07-05 |
Publications (1)
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WO1996001229A1 true WO1996001229A1 (en) | 1996-01-18 |
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PCT/US1995/008418 WO1996001229A1 (en) | 1994-07-05 | 1995-07-05 | Method of nitriding silicon |
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EP (1) | EP0782542A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996001229A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
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US5928442A (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 1999-07-27 | Snap-On Technologies, Inc. | Medium/high carbon low alloy steel for warm/cold forming |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0322174A1 (en) * | 1987-12-21 | 1989-06-28 | Eaton Corporation | Process for making silicon nitride articles |
WO1992001654A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Preparing silicon nitride with densification aid, and results |
WO1992001647A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Ceramic phase in silicon nitride containing cerium |
WO1992001653A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Process for making silicon nitride articles |
WO1992001650A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Process for nitriding silicon-containing materials |
JPH04114907A (en) * | 1990-09-03 | 1992-04-15 | Shin Etsu Chem Co Ltd | Production of alpha type silicon nitride powder |
-
1995
- 1995-07-05 WO PCT/US1995/008418 patent/WO1996001229A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-07-05 EP EP95925485A patent/EP0782542A1/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0322174A1 (en) * | 1987-12-21 | 1989-06-28 | Eaton Corporation | Process for making silicon nitride articles |
US4943401A (en) * | 1987-12-21 | 1990-07-24 | Eaton Corporation | Process for making silicon nitride articles |
WO1992001654A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Preparing silicon nitride with densification aid, and results |
WO1992001647A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Ceramic phase in silicon nitride containing cerium |
WO1992001653A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Process for making silicon nitride articles |
WO1992001650A1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-02-06 | Eaton Corporation | Process for nitriding silicon-containing materials |
JPH04114907A (en) * | 1990-09-03 | 1992-04-15 | Shin Etsu Chem Co Ltd | Production of alpha type silicon nitride powder |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
DATABASE WPI Section Ch Week 9222, Derwent World Patents Index; Class E36, AN 178988, "Alpha silicon nitride powder preparation." * |
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EP0782542A1 (en) | 1997-07-09 |
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