Silicoaluminum Carbonitride Ceramic Resist To Oxidation/Corrosion In Water Vapor

The oxidation behavior of polymer-derived SiAlCN ceramic in a water vapor environment was studied at 1400 °C. The oxidation and corrosion rates of the SiAlCN are much lower than those of SiCN and pure silicon-based ceramics. The material retains about 75% of its original strength after exposure in water vapor for 300 h at 1400 °C. It is believed that the superior resistance of the SiAlCN to water vapor-related oxidation and corrosion is due to the formation of an aluminum-doped silica layer, in which the aluminum has reduced the activity of the silica. © 2006 Materials Research Society