ABSTRACT
The oxidation of a silicon nitride-bonded silicon carbide ceramic was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Reaction occurs mainly in the nitride phase and the silica scale formed was imaged. The effect of varying SiC and Si particle sizes in the material was investigated. Corrosion of the ceramic by molten pure aluminium after varying degrees of oxidation was investigated. The most severe degradation was observed in the nitride phase. The reaction areas imaged can be explained by considering the relevant thermodynamic relations.
