Enhanced crystallization and phase transformation of amorphous silicon nitride under high pressure

The crystallization and phase transformation of amorphous Si3N4 ceramics under high pressure (1.0–5.0 GPa) between 800 and 1700 °C were investigated. A greatly enhanced crystallization and α–β transformation of the amorphous Si3N4 ceramics were evident under the high pressure, as characterized by that, at 5.0 GPa, the amorphous Si3N4 began to crystallize at a temperature as low as 1000 °C (to transform to a modification). The subsequent a–b transformation occurred completed between 1350 and 1420 °C after only 20 min of pressing at 5.0 GPa. In contrast, under 0.1 MPa N2, the identical amorphous materials were stable up to 1400 °C without detectable crystallization, and only a small amount of a phase was detected at 1500 °C. The crystallization temperature and the a–b transformation temperatures are reduced by 200–350 °C compared to that at normal pressure. The enhanced phase transformations of the amorphous Si3N4 were discussed on the basis of thermodynamic and kinetic consideration of the effects of pressure on nucleation and growth.