Abstract
The mechanisms and products of the reactions which occur during the sintering of SiC with Al2O3 as a sintering aid were analysed. The effects of two sintering atmospheres, namely pressurised CO acid Ar gases, on the reaction thermodynamics and reaction products were investigated. Thermodynamically predicted reaction products were correlated with experimentally determined reaction products. The observed weight losses and the final sintered densities are explained on the basis of the proposed reaction mechanisms. The major finding of the present analysis is that a pressurised CO gas atmosphere greatly enhances the densification characteristics of SiC ceramics.