Refinement of the [alpha]-Phase Area in the Yb-SiAION System

The composition and lattice parameters of several Yb-SiAION materials are reported. Electron microprobe analysis was used to measure the compositions of each phase, as this technique avoided the peak overlap problems encountered when using energy-dispersive spectroscopy. A refined set of equations relating the composition of Yb-α-SiAION to its lattice parameters is presented. The amount of oxygen substitution (n value) in α-SiAION has an effect on lattice parameters that is almost as strong as the amount of Al and Yb substitution (m value). The α-SiAION phase stability region is shown to extend much closer to the Si...N...-4/3(AIN:Al...O...) line than reported previously. (ProQuest-CSA LLC: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)