density and mass loss), chemical (α–β transformation and intergranular phase
crystallization) and mechanical (hardness and fracture toughness) properties of Si3N4
ceramics with Al2O3 and CTR2O3 as additives has been studied. CTR2O3 is a natural rare
earth oxide mixture, produced at DEMAR-FAENQUIL from the mineral xenotime, consisting
mainly of Y2O3, Yb2O3, Er2O3 and Dy2O3. The increase in hardness and fracture …