Volume is indexed by Thomson Reuters CPCI-S (WoS). In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing high performance materials for technological needs. In the case of structural ceramics, silicon nitride-based materials are considered the most promising candidates. The goal of this book is to evaluate the state of knowledge of silicon nitride-based materials with respect to basic science, powder technology and material properties as well as to discuss future work required in this areas.

Table of Contents:
Preface The Synthesis of a High Quality, Low Cost Silicon Nitride Powder by the Carbothermal Reduction of Silica Carbothermal Reduction Processes for the Preparation of Si3N4 Based Ceramic Powders Effect of Impurities on the Formation of Silicon Nitride by Carbothermal Reduction-Nitridation of Fine Hydrated Silica Powders A Comparative Study of Three Silicon Nitride Powders, Obtained by Three Different Syntheses Synthesis of Si3N4 Fibres by Gas-Phase Process Synthesis of Silicon Nitride Powders in an RF Plasma Torch, and Studies of Their Sintering Behaviour Synthesis of Si3 N4 And Si3 N4 -SiC Powders by an RF-Induction Plasma Ultra Fine Crystalline Silicon Nitride from a Continuous Gas Phase Plasma Route Parameters Controlling the Synthesis of ß-Silicon Nitride from Silica Preparation of Rod-Like ß-Si3N4 Single Crystal Particles Si-Nanopowder: A Material for Synthesis of Si3N4 and Joining of Si3N4-Parts Investigations on the Synthesis of Fine-Grained, High-Purity ß-Si3N4-Powder by Crystallization of Amorphous Precursors New Materials in the System Si-(N,C)-B and Their Characterization From Octamethylcyclotetrasilazane (OMCTS) via Crystalline Silicon Nitride Imide Si2N2NH to a-Si3N4 A Synthesis of Mono-Crystalline Silicon Nitride Filaments Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon Carbonitride Investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Processing and Properties of Carbon Containing Silicon Nitride Ceramics Derived from the Pyrolysis of Polyhydridochlorosilazanes Nanosized Si3N4/SiC-Powders by Polysilazane/Polycarbosilane-Pyrolsysis The Relationship between the Structure of Polysilazane Precursors, the Pyrolysis Conditions and their Final Ceramic Products Microstructural Design of Silicon Nitride with Tailored Properties Some New Aspects of Microstructural Development During Sintering of Silicon Nitride Self-Reinforced Silicon Nitride for Cutting Tool Application Microstructure Control in Si3N4 by Particle Coating The Effect of Powder Modification on Sinterability, Microstructure and Properties of Si3 N4 Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Si3N4 Densified with ZrO2 and Al2O3 Si3N4 Ceramics Formed with Different Metal Oxide Additives - Control of Microstructure and Properties Microstructural Features of Polycrystalline Si3N4 with Different a to ß Phase Ratios Correlation Among Powder Characteristics, Microstructural Development and Fracture Toughness of Si3N4 Preparation and Properties of Fine Si3N4 Ceramics Effect of Powder Characteristics on Sintering Behavior of Silicon Nitride Sintering and Microstructure of Si3N4-Materials Gas Pressure Sintering of Si3N4 in N2/CO/(CO2) Atmosphere Pressability and Sinterability of the Silicon Nitride Powders Porosity and Shrinkage Behaviour of Silicon Nitride Compacts Special Aspects of the Sintering of Carbothermally Synthesized Si3 N4 Powder High Temperature Interaction in Ultrahigh Dispersion Systems Si3 N4 -MeO Processing and Mechanical Properties of Si3N4 with Low Content of Additives SiO2 Doped Si3N4 Ceramics Transient Viscous Phase Reaction Sintering (TVPRS) for the Fabrication of Silicon Oxynitride Ceramics Effect of Process Atmosphere on Dilatometer Controlled Sintering Comparison of Properties in Silicon Nitrides Sintered with Oxide and Organometallic Additives Effect of Iron Silicon Addition in the Sintering Behavior of Silicon Nitride Sintering Characteristics of Si3N4 with Additives from Y2O3-La2O3 Binary System Method of Studying the SiAlON Wetting with Oxides of Silicon, Aluminium, Calcium and Titanium Oxidation of Silicon Nitride Sintered with Yttria and Magnesia Containing Nitrogen Rich Liquid PVD Coatings in the System Si-Al-O-N Morphological Development of Surface Scales During Long Term Oxidation of a Low Al-Substituted ß'-Sialon Long Term Uniaxial Mechanical Behaviour of a Pre-Corroded HP-Si3N4 at High Temperature Hydrothermal Reactions of Si3N4 Oxidation of Pure Si3N4: Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Glancing Angle X-Ray Diffraction Studies Oxidation Behaviour of Si3N4-ZrN-AlN Ceramics Hot-Salt Induced Degradation of a High Strength Silicon Nitride Surface Modification of Dense Silicon Nitride by Ion Beam Techniques SiAlON Composite Ceramics Crystallisation of Grain Boundary Phases in Silicon Nitride and SiAlON Ceramics High-Resolution Electron Microscopy Studies on Si3N4 Ceramics Prospects for Nitrogen Ceramics Effects of Temperature on Viscosities and Elastic Modulus of Oxynitride Glasses Modelling of Devitrification Kinetics in Sintered Silicon Nitride Ceramics Aspects of Stability of Amorphous Grain Boundary Phase in Silicon Nitride Ceramics A Perspective on Segregants and Glassy Films at Grain Boundaries in Structural Ceramics High-Temperature Dissociation Pressure of Silicon Nitride Investigation of a-SiAlON Formation by High Temperature X-Ray Diffraction Formation of O'/ß' SiAlON in the Presence of Yttria Stability Ranges of Li-a'-SiAlONs Subsolidus Phase Relationships in the Nd-Si-Al-O-N System Experimental Study and Thermodynamic Calculations of the MgO-Y2O3-SiO2 System Differential Thermal Analysis of Iron Containing Silicon Nitride Microstructural Features in Sintered Si3N4/SiC Platelets Systems Microstructural Characterisation of Silicon Nitride-Bonded Silicon Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composites of Silicon Nitride with Conducting Particles Continuous SiC-Fiber Reinforcement of Reaction Bonded Silicon Nitride (RBSN) Pressureless Sintered Si3N4-SiC Composites Gas Pressure Sintering of Si3N4 - Based Particulate Composites and Their Wear Behavior Creep Studies in Si3N4 - TiB2 Materials Elaboration and Characterization of Si3N4-BN Composites Dielectric Properties and Thermal Conductivity of SiAlON with Titanium Additives Influence of Processing on the Carbon Fibre/SiAlON Interface Quantitative Description of Si3N4 Microstructures Quantitative Analysis of Si3N4 Microstructure Response on Interface Chemistry Characterization of the Matrix Morphology in Si3N4 Ceramics Formed with Different Additives Nucleation and Growth of Si2N2O in Si3N4-Materials Employing Different Sintering Additives Development of Microstructure in Si3N4 Ceramics Formed with Additions of ZrO2, Y2O3 and Al2O3 Study of Grain Boundary Phase in Silicon Nitride Materials by Raman Spectroscopy Grain Growth in Si3N4 Grain Boundary Fracture Resistance of Silicon Nitride R-Curve Behaviour and Subcritical Crack Growth of Reinforced Si3N4 Ceramics Die Pressing and Mechanical Behaviour of Silicon Nitride A Comparative Study of Three Different Powders The Effect of Interparticle Contacts on the Mechanical Properties Mechanical Properties of Some Si3N4 Automotive Gas Turbine Rotor Ceramics Elastic Properties, Hardness and Indentation Fracture Toughness of ß-SiAlONs Ultramicrohardness Measurement of Silicon Nitride Films Mechanical Properties of Silicon Nitride Bonded Silicon Carbide Refractory and its Relation with Microstructure Application of Vickers Indentation Technique to Study the Slow-Crack Growth Behaviour in Silicon Nitride-Based Ceramic Matrix Composites Thermal Shock Behaviour of Si3N4 Tensile Creep and Creep Rupture Behavior of HIPED Silicon Nitride High Temperature Structural Reliability of Silicon Nitride Creep Rate and Stress Rupture Properties of NT154 Si3N4 Tension/Compression Creep Asymmetry in Si3N4 Improvements in the Creep Strength of HPSN by Optimization of Additive Content and Thermal Treatment Structure Dependent Creep and Crack Propagation in Silicon Nitrides Thermal Shock and Thermal Cycling Behavior of Silicon Nitride Ceramics Characterization of Two Si3N4 Commercially Available Ceramics Thermal Shock Properties of SiC Whisker-Reinforced Silicon Nitride Ceramics Tensile Creep Behaviour ot Two Silicon Nitride Materials Tensile Creep of a Silicon Nitride Ceramic Mechanical Properties of Sintered and Gas Pressure Sintered Silicon Nitride Creep Rutpure of Si3N4 Ceramics for Gas Turbine High-Temperature Creep Deformation of Hot-Pressed Silicon Nitride Tensile Creep of Sintered Silicon Nitride - Deformation Mechanisms and Lifetime Evaluation Microstructural Response of ZrO2-Doped Si3N4 During Static Loading Temperature Dependence of Young's Modulus of Si3N4 Based Ceramics Manufacturing Features, Structure and Properties of High-Porous Si3N4-Ceramics and SiAlONs Structural Evolution of Silicon Nitride-Titanium Nitride Composites During High-Temperature Creep Self-Reinforced Composite Ceramics of the Si-Si3 N4 System High Temperature Deformation and Fracture of Polycrystalline Silicon Nitride Cyclic Fatigue of Silicon Nitride at 1000°C Surface Chemical Interactions of Si3N4 with Polyelectrolyte Deflocculants Processing and Characterization of Si3N4 Made with Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis Injection Molding of Silicon Nitride Silicon Nitride-Nd2 O3 /Al2 O3 Powders Prepared by Precipitation of the Oxide Additives Slip Casting of Silicon Nitride and Properties of Sintered Body Spray Freeze Drying of Non-Aqueous Si3N4-Slips Thermos Construction Made of Si3N4 in the Heat Insulated Engine Applications of Silicon Nitride Practical Application of Silicon Nitride Ceramics for Sliding Parts of Rotary Engine Studies of Friction Pair Si3N4-Steel Wear Mechanisms Structure and Characteristics of Si3N4-Based Ceramic Cutting Tools Diffusion Bonding of Silicon Nitride with Low Carbon Steel Using Tungsten Layer Analysis of Buried Nitride Layers Produced by Ion Implantation Ceramic Wear Maps: Silicon Nitride Brazing of Silicon Nitride Ceramics Tribological Induced Microstructural Changes in Subsurface Layers of Si3N4-Based Materials