Role of alpha-SiAlON nuclei addition on the rod-like y-sm alpha-SiAlON formations

In this study, effect of seed addition on the microstructural development of Y-Sm alpha-SiAION system has been investigated. Besides using pre-produced rod-like alpha-SiAION seeds, growth in the glassy phase and harvested by chemical treatment, powdered Y-SmAx-SiAION was also used as nuclei. Microstructural results of both systems were compared with un-seeded samples. It was found that the powdered alpha-SiAION addition has also caused the acicular alpha-SiAION grain formation, which indicates the dominant effect of thermodynamic stability on the preferential growth of alpha-SiAION grains in the c direction.