Formation process of β-SiC during reaction-sintering

Reaction-sintered bodies of β-SiC were prepared from various carbon powders, such as non-graphitizable carbon, petroleum coke, artificial graphite and kish graphite. The maximum particle size of carbon powder that can be completely siliconized was estimated from the difference of particle size distribution between carbon raw materials and unreacted carbon observed in the reaction-sintered bodies. The lattice strain of β-SiC formed in situ was measured by an X-ray line broadening method. It was suggested from these data that the formation process of β-SiC during the reaction-sintering was influenced by the microstructure of carbon raw materials: the crystallite size and the degree of preferred orientation of crystallite. (Auth.)