Semiquantitative X-ray structural method for determining phase composition of ultradisperse powders of Si <inf>3</inf> N <inf>4</inf> obtained by a plasmachemical procedure

Abstract

Nine samples of ultradisperse powders of Si 3 N 4 were synthesized using a new plasmachemical procedure. An attempt was made to determine the phase composition of samples using the Cullity X-ray structural method. Discrepancy was established between the results of the Cullity phase analysis and the given physicochemical characteristics of Si 3 N 4 . Because of that, we developed a semiquantitative X-ray structural method for the determination of the phase content of the Si 3 N 4 samples. The semiquantitative X-ray structural method enables work with all maxima (hkl) which appear in the diffractogram, and doesn't require standard sample. The phase composition of investigated samples which was determined using this method is in accord with phase composition determined on the basis of chemical composition. © 1999 Akadémiai Kiadó.