Sintering of Si3N4-SiC-MoSi2 composites additively manufactured by Multi Material Jetting

The aim of this work was to investigate the sintering behavior of Si3N4-SiC-MoSi2 composites manufactured by the Multi Material Jetting (MMJ) process. Therefore, electrically conductive and insulating Si3N4-SiC-MoSi2 composites were printed using MMJ. Samples were sintered in a gas-pressure furnace at 6 and 31 atm, respectively. The density, microstructure, and crystalline phase composition were investigated, and the results discussed regarding the phase stability of the Si3N4-SiC-MoSi2 composites. The results show that the nitrogen pressure must be set carefully to avoid the formation of Mo5Si3 or Mo4.8Si3C0.6 on the one hand and to prevent the decomposition of the phases into a Si-containing melt on the other.