DenseSi3N4BNcompositeceramicswerefabricatedbysparkplasmasinteringat1500,1600and1650℃under50MPafor5minusingSi3N4andBNpowdersasstartingmaterialsand2mass%Al2O3and6mass%Y2O3assinteringadditives.ThevolumefractionofBNinSi3N4BNcompositepowderswaschosenas10%,20%,and30%,respectively.TheresultsofXRDandSEMshowthatα-Si3N4completelyturnsintoβ-Si3N4whenthecompositeceramicsaresinteredat1650℃;theadditionofBNhindersthegrowthofSi3N4grains,refiningthestructure;VickershardnessandfracturetoughnessofthecompositeceramicsdecreasewiththeincreaseofBNcontent.
