Abstract
Mechanical properties of porous anisotropic silicon nitrides, fabricated by a partial sinter-forging technique, were investigated in the temperature range from room temperature (R.T.) to 1400°C. The fabricated specimens, with porosity of about 24%, exhibited a relatively high strength as well as a high fracture energy. These good properties were maintained even at temperatures as high as 1300°C. This achievement of good properties is very likely due to the combined effects of grain alignment, presence of pores between grains and yttria sintering aid refractoriness.