Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A superplastic covalent crystal composite

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

SUPERPLASTICITY is defined phenomenologically as the ability of a material to exhibit exceptionally large elongations during tensile deformation1. It is a property of some poly crystalline solids, and is well established for metals and alloys2. Superplasticity has also been observed in some ionic crystals, such as Y2O3-stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 polycrystals3,4, but has not been found previously for covalent crystals. Here we report superplastic elongation (by more than 150%) of a covalent crystal composite, Si3N4/SiC. The superplasticity is probably related to the presence of an inter-granular liquid phase. Combined with its hardness, this property suggests several useful applications for the novel material: for example, to form engine components—superplasticity will make it readily mouldable at high temperatures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Edington, J. W., Melton, K. N. & Cutler, C. P. Prog. Mater. Sci. 21, 61–170 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Pearson, C. E. J. Inst Metals. 54, 111–124 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wakai, F., Sakaguchi, S. & Matsuno, Y. Adv. ceram. Mater. 1, 259–263 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wakai, F. & Kato, H. Adv. ceram. Mater. 3, 71–76 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ashby, M. F. & Verrall, R. A. Acta metall. 21, 149–163 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gifkins, R. C. Metall. Trans. 7A, 1225–1232 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pharr, G. M. & Ashby, M. F. Acta metall. 31, 129–138 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang, J. G. & Raj, R. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 67, 399–409 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Carry, C. in Superplasticity (eds Baudelet, B. & Suery, M.) 16.1–16.19 (CNRS, Paris, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lange, F. F., Diaz, E. S. & Andersson, C. A. Ceram. Bull. 58, 845–848 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Suzuki, T. et al. Yogyo-Kyokai-Shi 95, 81–85 (1987).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Izaki, K., Hakkei, K., Ando, K. & Niihara, K. in Ultrastructure Processing of Advanced Ceramics (eds Mackenzie, J. D. & Ulrich, D. R.) 891–900 (Wiley, New York, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Tsuge, A., Inoue, H. & Komeya, K. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 72, 2014–2016 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Greskovich, C. & Prochazka, S. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 64, C96–C97 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Government Industrial Research Institute, Nagoya 1-1, Hirate-cho, Kita-ku, Nagoya, 462, Japan

    F. Wakai, Y. Kodama, S. Sakaguchi & N. Murayama

  2. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc., 182, Shinwari, Tayuhama, Niigata, 950-31, Japan

    K. Izaki

  3. The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, 567, Japan

    K. Niihara

Authors
  1. F. Wakai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Kodama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Sakaguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Murayama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. K. Izaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K. Niihara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wakai, F., Kodama, Y., Sakaguchi, S. et al. A superplastic covalent crystal composite. Nature 344, 421–423 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/344421a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/344421a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation