Research progress in preparation and application of silicon nitride ceramic whiskers

As a one-dimensional single-crystal material，silicon nitride whiskers possess excellent mechanical，thermal，high-temperature resistance，and corrosion resistance properties，making them a widely used reinforcing material. This paper systematically reviews the current status and application prospects of silicon nitride whisker-reinforced polymer，metal，and ceramic matrix composites. This work introduces the mainstream methods for preparing silicon nitride whiskers，including self-propagating high-temperature synthesis，carbothermal reduction nitridation，direct nitridation，and high-temperature heat treatment. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are analyzed，and the challenges and solutions in practical applications，such as interface bonding and dispersion uniformity，are discussed. Additionally，the paper also provides an outlook on the future development prospects of whisker preparation and application.