Effect of Hydrogen Heat Treatment of Aluminum and Silicon Nitrides Powders on Mechanical Properties of Ceramics

The effect of hydrogen heat treatment on the chemical composition and morphology of aluminum and silicon nitrides powders for producing ceramics with enhanced operation properties is investigated. It is shown that the hydrogen heat treatment leads to decrease in the content of admixture elements, loosening of aggregates of powder particles and, as a consequence, activation in compacting. The resulting ceramics have enhanced mechanical properties, contrary to the samples produced of nitride powders with no hydrogen treatment.