Effect of graphene orientation on microstructure and mechanical properties of silicon nitride ceramics

Mechanical properties and microstructure of graphene platelets reinforced Si3N4 composites have been investigated and compared to monolithic Si3N4. The microstructure shows that graphene platelets are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the hot pressing direction. Fracture toughness and flexural strength of composite with 1 wt.% graphene measured on polished surface perpendicular to hot pressing direction are 8.7MPa?m1/2 and 892MPa, respectively, which are increased about 14.5% and 20.2% compared with that parallel to hot pressing direction. The anisotropy of microstructure and mechanical properties of composites can be explained by the intrinsic anisotropy of graphene as well as the crack deflection energy release rate and the weak boundary bonding between graphene and Si3N4 caused by the thermal expansion mismatch.