Densification rate and phase structure changes during sintering of zinc titanate ceramics

摘要

Densification rate and phase structure changes during sintering of nanosized ZnTiO_3 were studied. Sintering was performed in a dilatometer in two regimes: the first to 900 deg C (heating rates 5, 10 and 15 deg C/min) and the second to 1200 deg C (heating rates 3, 5 and 10 deg C/min). XRD analysis of samples sintered at both temperatures combined with Rietveld structure refinement enabled determination of all phases present and their structure parameters. Samples sintered to 900 deg C contained ZnTiO_3 and Zn_2TiO_4 with traces of r-TiO_2 (rutile) and Zn_2Ti_3O_8, while samples sintered tol200 deg C contained only r-TiO_2 and Zn_2TiO_4. A master sintering curve was defined for sintering to 900 deg C enabling determination of the sintering process activation energy as 313 kJ/mol.