Observations of dislocations in β-silicon nitride

Abstract

Foils of βSi₃N₄ containing dislocations generated as a result of fracture at room temperature have been examined by transmission electron microscopy. The dislocations have been show to lie on {1010} and to be near edge orientation with a Burgers vector c [0001]. The application of visibility criteria to dislocations in βSi₃N₄ is considered.