Hot pressing of silicon nitride using magnesium silicide

Claim 1

A hot-pressed polycrystalline silicon nitride body having a density ranging from about 80% to about 100% of the theoretical density of silicon nitride, said body consisting essentially of silicon nitride, magnesium and oxygen, said silicon nitride ranging from the α-form to the β-form with all mixtures of said α-and β-forms falling within said range, said magnesium being present in an amount ranging from about 0.3% by weight to about 1.9% by weight of said silicon nitride, said oxygen being present in an amount ranging up to about 3% by weight of said body, said polycrystalline body ranging from a single phase body to one comprised of a primary phase and less than about 5% by volume of said body of a secondary magnesium-containing phase, said body being at least substantially free of an intergranular silicate glassy phase at its grain boundaries and retaining at least about 75% of its room temperature mechanical properties at elevated temperatures ranging up to about 1350° C. in air.