Effect of Induction Heating on Surface Properties of Hot-Pressed Ceramics Based on Nanopowders Si₃N₄ and TiN

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report (New Reviewer)

1. In Chapter 3 odl the sub-chapters should be number 3.1 , 3.2 etc.

2. Figure 2 - Al203 should be written with numbers in subscript

3. It would be interesting ti know how thick was a layer that was grinded i.e. removed? 

4. Authors didn't provide explanation for the fact that Si3N4-Y2O3 - TiN samples don't have as much carbon in the surface layer when compared to other samples  with same moulds  used.

5. Diagram in the Figure 6 is of poor quality

Overall good, minor changes suggested in the comments section

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. In Chapter 3 odl the sub-chapters should be number 3.1 , 3.2 etc.

 

Changed

 

2. Figure 2 - Al203 should be written with numbers in subscript

 

Changed

 

3. It would be interesting ti know how thick was a layer that was grinded i.e. removed? 

 

I'm afraid it's hard to say for sure (maybe 1-2 mm), because hot pressing conditions and composition greatly affect the thickness. I reduced the samples by half. Only after that I got reproducible properties.

 

4. Authors didn't provide explanation for the fact that Si3N4-Y2O3 - TiN samples don't have as much carbon in the surface layer when compared to other samples  with same moulds  used.

 

Unfortunately, I don’t know and I have no idea… It’s really very strange. It may be wettability or diffusion properties or the influence of an electromagnetic field. This is a challenge for a new study.

 

5. Diagram in the Figure 6 is of poor quality.

 

Tried to change.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Overall good, minor changes suggested in the comments section

I have edited English so much as it’s possible.

 

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 

Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52,

Skype: lisart55

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report (Previous Reviewer 2)

The resubmited and improved manuscript entitled “Effect of Induction Heating on Surface Properties of Hot-Pressed Nanopowders based on Si₃N₄ and TiN” by L.L. Sartinska is interesting research work. Necessary corrections have been made compared to the first version. I am pleased to say that the quality of the work has improved considerably, I recommend this manuscript for publication.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 

Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52,

Skype: lisart55

Reviewer 3 Report (Previous Reviewer 1)

The author has disregarded the recommendations provided by the previous reviewers. The graphs remain unimproved despite the possibility for enhancement. Moreover, the level of English has not undergone any modifications; the author has submitted an unedited article as is. Given this approach, the article lacks the necessary quality to be published in a reputable journal.

It is necessary to avail the services of a professional translator.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author has disregarded the recommendations provided by the previous reviewers. The graphs remain unimproved despite the possibility for enhancement. Moreover, the level of English has not undergone any modifications; the author has submitted an unedited article as is. Given this approach, the article lacks the necessary quality to be published in a reputable journal.

I tried to change manuscript so much as it’s possible. The changes of graphs remain complicated.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It is necessary to avail the services of a professional translator.

I tried to edite manuscript so much as it’s possible.

 

Submission Date

20 June 2023

Date of this review

27 Jun 2023 07:50:24

 

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 

Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report (New Reviewer)

This paper investigates the effect of induction heating on the surface properties of hot-pressed ceramics using Si3N4 and TiN as base materials. The ceramics were prepared using plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder synthesis. The detailed preparation method of the plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder is provided. The results are clear. However, some revisions are still recommended.

 

1. The paper mentions various material names and abbreviations such as Si3N4, TiN, Al2O3, AlN, Y2O3, etc. Please ensure that all abbreviations are correctly defined and cited throughout the document.

 

2. In the abstract, the paper mentions the use of plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder synthesis for the preparation of hot-pressed ceramic materials, but does not provide detailed information on the preparation method of the plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder. Please provide more details.

 

3. In the introduction, the paper states that nanoscale powders exhibit excellent physical and chemical properties in ceramic materials, but fails to provide specific examples or research results to support this claim. Please provide more relevant research background and citations.

 

4. In the Materials and Methods section, the paper mentions the use of a ball mill for powder mixing in acetone medium. However, specific ball mill parameters such as rotation speed and milling time are not provided. Please provide more details.

 

5. In the Materials and Methods section, the paper mentions the use of a high-frequency generator for induction heating, but does not specify the specific conditions and parameters of induction heating. Please provide more details.

 

6. The paper mentions X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis for material characterization, but does not provide specific analysis results and data. Please provide more experimental results and analysis.

 

7. In the Discussion section, the paper mentions the influence of gradient structures and modified layers on material properties, but does not provide specific experimental data or analysis to support this conclusion. Please provide more relevant experimental results and discussion.

 

8. In the Conclusion section, the paper states that the objective of the study is to investigate the composition of nanoscale powders, the formation of modified layers on ceramic surfaces, and the influence on material properties, but does not provide specific conclusions or summaries. Please provide more conclusions and summaries.

 

9. The paper mentions unusual effects of microwave or induction energy, but does not provide detailed explanations or mechanisms for these effects. Please provide more details and relevant research support.

 

 

10. There are some grammar and spelling errors in the manuscript. Please carefully proofread and revise accordingly.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper investigates the effect of induction heating on the surface properties of hot-pressed ceramics using Si3N4 and TiN as base materials. The ceramics were prepared using plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder synthesis. The detailed preparation method of the plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder is provided. The results are clear. However, some revisions are still recommended.

1. The paper mentions various material names and abbreviations such as Si3N4, TiN, Al2O3, AlN, Y2O3, etc. Please ensure that all abbreviations are correctly defined and cited throughout the document.

Corrected

2. In the abstract, the paper mentions the use of plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder synthesis for the preparation of hot-pressed ceramic materials, but does not provide detailed information on the preparation method of the plasma-assisted chemical nanopowder. Please provide more details.

These powders were synthesized at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. We collaborated with this institute, bought their nanopowders and did not take part in the process of preparing nanopowders. Detailed information on the preparation of these powders is presented in [37].

These powders are quite unusual. Their disadvantage and advantage are a wide particle size distribution. This makes it possible to obtain a ceramic material with unusual but not always reproducible properties. Therefore, my small contribution to their reproducibility of properties will help to better use their potential.

 

[37]      T. Millers, J. Grabis, and I. Zālīte, “Ultrafine Powders of the Refractory Materials in the Composite Development BT  - MICC 90: Moscow International Composites Conference, 1990,” I. N. Fridlyander and V. I. Kostikov, Eds. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 1991, pp. 151–153.

 

 The review is devoted to the analysis of the results of investigation of plasmochemical synthesis of ultrafine powders of different refractory compounds and their compositions performed in the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

3. In the introduction, the paper states that nanoscale powders exhibit excellent physical and chemical properties in ceramic materials, but fails to provide specific examples or research results to support this claim. Please provide more relevant research background and citations.

Corrected introduction. Add citation

Ceramics based on nanopowders can exhibit prominent properties since these powders display different and usually outstanding physical and chemical properties as compared to their larger counterparts. For example, ceramics based on silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) nanopowders can exhibit plastic behavior even if it is typically tough and strong [1]. Nanoparticles of Si₃N₄ are also indispensable components for the next generation high-power electronic, for the fabrication of electronic devices operating at high temperature and high frequency in harsh environment [2]–[4]. 

4. In the Materials and Methods section, the paper mentions the use of a ball mill for powder mixing in acetone medium. However, specific ball mill parameters such as rotation speed and milling time are not provided. Please provide more details.

Corrected. Added more information.

 

Mixing weighed quantities of powders was carried out in a planetary ball mill for 20 min in an acetone media [38]. The planetary mill had 4 cylinders, each having a volume of 250 ml. The mass of the loaded balls, 100 g for each cylinder; the acceleration of the grinding bodies, 6g and the mass of the material load to be processed, 20 g. Ceramic balls with a diameter of 3, 5, and 6 mm were used as the grinding bodies.

5. In the Materials and Methods section, the paper mentions the use of a high-frequency generator for induction heating, but does not specify the specific conditions and parameters of induction heating. Please provide more details.

Corrected. Added more information.

Hot pressing of plasma chemical powders was performed in multi-cavity graphite dies at a temperature 1820 0C in air at a pressure of 20 MPa applied along one axis and at a dwell time of 1-8 minutes.

6. The paper mentions X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis for material characterization, but does not provide specific analysis results and data. Please provide more experimental results and analysis.

I deleted mention X-ray diffraction. Now I am not able to provide more experimental results and analysis than I did.

7. In the Discussion section, the paper mentions the influence of gradient structures and modified layers on material properties, but does not provide specific experimental data or analysis to support this conclusion. Please provide more relevant experimental results and discussion.

I agree with you. It is desirable to conduct a detailed study of the modified layer, to present SEM pictures and XRD study results. Such studies have been conducted, but no convincing differences have been found. Moreover, the results of the differences presented in [33] do not look very convincing. For example, the explanations presented by the authors of the article [33] about the increase in the thickness of the dark area due to the increase in sintering additives from 6 wt.% to 8 wt.% in Fig. 2 do not explain why with an increase in sintering additives from 8 wt. % to 12 wt.%, the thickness of the dark colored area changes much less. Differences between skin layer (a) and volume (b) in Fig. 3, 4, 6 on electronic images hot-pressed silicon nitride ceramics are very controversial. X-ray diffraction patterns of hot-pressed silicon nitride ceramics both for the skin layer and for the bulk region look the same in Fig. 5. Moreover, in my experiments, samples of the same composition might not have a dark color area.

 

Unfortunately, the technological process is not perfect, as can be seen from Fig. 1. The thickness of the modified layer may depend on many factors: temperature, heating rate, holding time, surface lubricant thickness, its composition and grain size, and many other factors. I can only provide indirect evidence of the existence of the modified layer. It is interesting to note that it is observed only for ceramics obtained from plasma-chemical powders with an average grain size of about 0.03 µm and with a wide particle size distribution. The rest of the powders did not show this feature. The color change presented in [33] was observed for silicon nitride-based ceramics obtained from powders with an average grain size of about 0.4 µm and with a narrow particle size distribution.

 

33. Mishima M, Sato Y, Ueki M. Relation between microstructure and color tone of skin layer and bulk area of silicon nitride ceramics. Nippon Seramikkusu Kyokai Gakujutsu Ronbunshi/Journal Ceram Soc Japan. 1992;100(1167):1323-1326. doi:10.2109/jcersj.100.1323

 

8. In the Conclusion section, the paper states that the objective of the study is to investigate the composition of nanoscale powders, the formation of modified layers on ceramic surfaces, and the influence on material properties, but does not provide specific conclusions or summaries. Please provide more conclusions and summaries.

 I agree partially and I changed the goal to next:

Thus, the main objective of this research is to fabricate materials based on nanopowders, study how the composition of the original nanopowders and sintering conditions influence the formation of a modified surface layer on ceramics. Additionally, the research aims to assess the impact of this modified layer on the material properties.

I did not mention about: “the objective of the study is to investigate the composition of nanoscale powders”

Conclusions present main results:

1. Materials based on nanopowders have a modified layer
2. Additional grinding results in increase of density, hardness and the number of acoustic emission signals.
3. Acoustic emission signals may indicate a transgranular or intergranular fracture.
4. The presence of Y₂O₃ prevents the penetration of carbon
5. The darkly colored areas provides confirmation of the occurrence of non-thermal micro-wave effects

I changed Conclusions too.

Hot-pressed ceramic materials based on plasma-chemical nanopowders, as prepared, have a modified porous layer on the surface. When subjected to additional surface grinding, this layer is removed, resulting in increased density, hardness and the number of acoustic emission signals. The occurrence of acoustic emission signals may indicate a transgranular or intergranular fracture of the composite ceramic structure after the surface grinding process.

Surface porosity and higher carbon content lead to increased wear of ceramic material based on SIALON reinforced TiN before to additional surface grinding. Incorporating Y₂O₃ in the composition of ceramics based on Si₃N₄ reinforced TiN prevents the carbon infiltration into the bulk of the material and mitigates the grinding effect.

The presence of darkly colored areas on the surface of ceramics based on Si3N4 plasma chemical powders, provides confirmation of the occurrence of non-thermal micro-wave effects from the induction furnace on these nanoparticles.

9. The paper mentions unusual effects of microwave or induction energy, but does not provide detailed explanations or mechanisms for these effects. Please provide more details and relevant research support.

I am not specialist in the field of magnetism of plasma-chemical nanopowders. I just observed unusual darkly colored area on the surface of my ceramic materials and tried to explain this optical effect by structural inhomogeneity and various defects such as cationic and oxygen vacancies of Si3N4 plasma-chemical powders, which promote the alignment of dipoles in the electromagnetic field.

 Since any changes in materials properties were not found I have concluded that the reason of that is alignment of a number of dipoles in the electromagnetic field which is result in the darkly colored area in the outer volume of the samples parallel to the direction of hot pressing.

The structural inhomogeneity and various defects such as cationic and oxygen vacancies of Si3N4 plasma-chemical powders lead to their magnetism. As a result, hot-pressed ceramic materials change their optical properties under the effect of an electromagnetic field during induction heating. An increase in the dwell time of the induction heating of nanopowder and an increase in sintering additives lead to the alignment of a greater number of dipoles in the electromagnetic field and an increase in the darkly colored area in the outer volume of the samples parallel to the direction of hot pressing.

10. There are some grammar and spelling errors in the manuscript. Please carefully proofread and revise accordingly.

I have edited my English.

 

Submission Date

20 June 2023

Date of this review

27 Jul 2023 11:17:13

 

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report (Previous Reviewer 1)

In its current form, the article can be accepted for publication

Reviewer 4 Report (New Reviewer)

The article can be accepted in the current version.

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In the present study, some errors and omissions have been identified that require urgent attention before the manuscript can be considered for publication. Firstly, it is imperative that the methodology be elucidated in greater detail, either through the provision of relevant literature or standards. The graphs should also be accompanied by confidence intervals to aid in the visualization of the sharp decline observed at 200N in Figure 1a. Moreover, a general view photograph of the received samples would be beneficial to readers.
This article addresses the current topic of developing ceramic materials with superior durability and wear resistance. The author possesses the requisite expertise in the field, as evidenced by his previous publications. The manuscript is written using clear and concise English. Nevertheless, further modifications are required to ensure its suitability for publication in a scholarly journal.
In Fig. 3, the absence of a zero baseline raises questions regarding the position of the center, while the endpoint of 20mm merits clarification considering the dimensions of the samples (12.7 × 12.7 mm, thickness 4.76 mm). The author has also made errors in representing chemical formulas, including incorrect use of subscripts. An unknown character was identified in Line 78, and the incorrect use of degrees Celsius requires rectification.

Additionally, the author introduces the term "Sialon matrix" without sufficient evidence from techniques like XRD to validate its existence. Furthermore, the original powders require an improved description, including morphology, dispersion, and specific surface data, while the lack of diffraction patterns from the XRD instrument mentioned in the materials and methods section is of concern.

Addressing these issues is crucial in ensuring the publication of a rigorous and scientifically sound manuscript.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

​Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 

Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52,

Skype: lisart55

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript powders-2294376-peer-review-v1 entitled “Effect of Induction Heating on Surface Properties of Hot-Pressed Nanopowders based on Si₃N₄ and TiN” by L.L. Sartinska is attractive and technically interesting paper. In my opinion, paper has great potential, but it is not yet fully exploited. At present state, this manuscript cannot be recommended for publication unless after major revisions.

As the reviewer of this article, I have following questions and reminders to the authors: 

1) Except for rare exceptions, subscripts are not used in formulas. 

For example, Si₃N₄ is written as Si3N4.

2) Page 2/Line 78: Please correct the text: “…fA-Si3N4…”.

3) Page 3/Line 104: Please correct the text: “…at 1820 0C…”.

4) Page 3/Line 113: K1c (KIc) should be better specified as the plane-strain fracture toughness. 

In the article, I am missing the Niihara equation, which used for the calculation of KIc, and experimental values of parameters “a” and “l”.

5) In my opinion, the clarity of the text would benefit if the prepared specimens were divided into three groups. For example:

a) Si3N4 samples (without and with sintering additive)

b) ALON

c) SiAlON

Classifying samples into these groups (Table 1) would make the text clearer and facilitate discussion of differences.

A large number of samples have been prepared, but the effect of composition on material properties is discussed only in hints. In the conclusion, there is nothing at all. 

6) I think it would be possible to fit the data (1) in Figure 1b and formulate some more general conclusion.

7) Page 7-8/ Lines 221-240 and the last paragraph of the conclusion: I'm not sure if the explanation for the dark colored area (Figure 4) is correct.

In my opinion, this can be better explained by the formation of TiCN. This explanation also seems to be consistent with the presented experimental data - Figure 3 and 4.

In any case, there was no direct evidence that the change in the magnetic properties of the material is the cause of the different coloration. After all, this must be a secondary consequence of changes in the structure, distribution of defects or composition.

This part of the manuscript needs to be revised or supported by experimental evidence.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

 

​Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 

Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52,

Skype: lisart55

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

This paper does not follow the proper format of Powders journal.

I strongly suggest the author must revise the entire text again very carefully.

In the manuscript, there are many typos (including the wrong upper and lower subscripts). 

And reference style is very poor in the manuscript.

The line spacing in the text is arbitrary.

Even the symbol for temperature is wrong.

The resolutions of figures are very low and The graph's axis labels are also incorrect.

A review of this article is impossible with the manuscript in its current state.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

I am grateful for your consideration of this manuscript, and I also very much appreciate your suggestions, which have been very helpful in its improving.

 

​Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lina L.Sartinska

 

Senior Researcher,

5. Department of Materials aerospace technique

Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science, NAS of Ukraine, 

Address /w/:  3 Krzhyzhanivsky Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine 
Phone /w/: +380 (0) 44-3622639
Fax     /w/: +380 (0) 44-4242131
Homepage: http://www.materials.kiev.ua/science/emp_info.jsp?id=253&object=dept&obj_id=52&caller=

E-mail:  sart@ipms.kiev.ua

             linasartinska@yahoo.com
             lisart11@gmail.com

             lisart@ukr.net
Mobile: +380 (0) 95 729 65 29, +380 (0) 67 592 10 52,

Skype: lisart55

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I have reviewed your revisions. You have made significant improvements to the article, making it more presentable and informative. However, you have ignored some remarks that prevent the publication of this article. The main issues are grammar and style. I would recommend consulting a native English speaker. Your English proficiency is still insufficient for translation, or you can use a neural network translator that can transform your text without losing its meaning, as you fear.

 

Additionally, I would suggest enhancing the quality of Figures 3 and 6. Figure 4 lacks a scale bar in the microphotograph. The materials and methods section does not describe the instrument used to obtain the data images.

 

Figure 1 is missing a scale bar. In Figure 5a, there are artifacts from processing the graph in the editing software.

 

Lines 277-280 lack graphical data confirming this statement.

Author Response

bn

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript powders-2294376-peer-review-v2 entitled “Effect of Induction Heating on Surface Properties of Hot-Pressed Nanopowders based on Si₃N₄ and TiN” by L.L. Sartinska has been properly revised. Since the necessary corrections have been made and the quality of the work has improved considerably, I recommend the revised manuscript for publication.

Reviewer 3 Report

My opinion is the same as in my last review. The format of the article does not follow the rules of the journal. And most of the figures are of very poor quality. This document cannot be reviewed at this stage.