Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics in the Al2O3–SiO2 System—Modeling of Mullite and Liquid

The Al₂O₃–SiO₂ system has been reassessed using a solution model for mullite extending from sillimanite to a hypothetical state of alumina. The property of sillimanite, to be used to describe one of the end-members, was extracted from an analysis of the T – P phase diagram for Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs. It was possible to represent the information on the range of stability of mullite, including some showing that mullite extends to higher SiO₂ contents than represented by the composition of 3:2 mullite. An attempt was made to model the liquid with the ionic two-sublattice model using a new species AlO₂⁻¹. The pressure dependence of Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs was optimized by a new model recently implemented in Thermo-Calc.     

Glass Formation Range, Acid Resistivity, and Surface Charge Density of ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 Passivation Glass Containing Al2O3

The glass formation range in the system ZnO-B₂O₃-SiO₂ increases when 5% Al₂O₃ is added and then decreases with further Al₂O₃ additions. The acid resistivity of the glass also increases when Al₂O₃ is added. An observed increase in negative charge with Al content until the system contains equal amounts of Al and Si (in forms of mole %) is explained by the formation of AlO₄⁻ tetrahedra which substitute in the SiO₄ network. Alkaline-earth oxides cause a positive charge which compensates for the negative charge formed by Al₂O₃. Antimony oxide and lanthanum oxide result in a negative charge in the glass. The formation of a negative or positive charge in the glass is thought to reflect the acidity or basicity of the glass, respectively.     

Phase Equilibria and Structural Species in MgF2-MgO, MgF2-CaO, and MgF2-Al2O3 Systems

Partial equilibrium phase diagrams for the systems MgF₂-MgO, MgF₂-CaO, and MgF₂-Al₂O₃ were determined by differential thermal analysis. Simple eutectics were observed at 8.5 mol% MgO and 1228°± 3°C in the MgF₂-MgO system, at 7.5 mol% CaO and 1208°± 3°C in the MgF₂-CaO system, and at 2.5 mol% Al₂O₃ and 1250°± 3°C in the MgF₂-Al₂O₃ system. On the basis of agreements between the activities calculated by the Clausius-Clapeyron equation and Temkin's model using the present data, the eutectic melt consists of Mg²⁺, F^-, and O^2- ions in the MgF₂-MgO system; Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, F^-, and O^2- ions in the MgF₂-CaO system; and Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, F^-, and AlO_2¯ ions in the MgF₂-Al₂O₃ system. Well-defined long needles of MgO in the MgF₂-MgO system, less defined needles of CaO in the MgF₂-CaO system, and Al₂O₃ grains in the MgF₂-Al₂O₃ system were observed by optical microscopy.     

Thermodynamic Modeling of the Isomorphous Phase Diagrams in the Al2O3–Cr2O3 and V2O3–Cr2O3 Systems

The phase diagrams in the Al₂O₃–Cr₂O₃ and V₂O₃–Cr₂O₃ systems have been assessed by thermodynamic modeling with existing data from the literature. While the regular and subregular solution models were used in the Al₂O₃–Cr₂O₃ system to represent the Gibbs free energies of the liquid and solid phases, respectively, the regular solution model was applied to both phases in the V₂O₃–Cr₂O₃ system. By using the liquidus, solidus, and/or miscibility gap data, the interaction parameters of the liquid and solid phases were optimized through a multiple linear regression method. The phase diagrams calculated from these models are in good agreement with experimental data. Also, the solid miscibility gap and chemical spinodal in the V₂O₃–Cr₂O₃ system were estimated.     

New Compound in the System SrO-Al2O3

A new compound, 12SrO·7Al₂O₃, is formed from an amorphous material prepared by the simultaneous hydrolysis of strontium and aluminum alkoxides. It has a cubic unit cell with a =1.2325 nm. The structure contains tetrahedral AlO₄ groups and octahedral AlO₆ groups. This compound decomposes into 3SrO·Al₂O₃ and SrO·Al₂O₃ at higher temperatures.     

Assessment of the CaO-Al2O3 System

A thermodynamic assessment of the quasi-binary system CaO-Al₂O₃ has been made using a computerized CALPHAD (calculation of phase diagrams) technique. The actual optimization was carried out with a computer program for the optimization of parameters in thermodynamic models called PARROT. The liquid phase is described by a simple two-sublattice subregular solution model with Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺ as cationic species and O^2- as anionic species. All solid phases are treated as stoichiometric compounds. A consistent set of parameters describing the system is presented, and numerous comparisons with experimental data are made. There is a lack of accurate data in the high-alumina part of the system, and the importance of a better knowledge of the CaO·6Al₂O₃ phase is stressed.     

Properties of BaO–R2O3– Ga2O3–GeO2 (R = Y, Al, La, and Gd) Glasses

Barium gallogermanate glasses were prepared with substitutions of Al₂O₃, Y₂O₃, La₂O₃, and Gd₂O₃ for Ga₂O₃. The effects of these substitutions on the glass transformation temperature, viscosity, thermal expansion, and molar volume have been determined. The changes in properties associated with each substitutional ion are consistent with structural roles reported for these ions in other glasses. Aluminum acts as an intermediate with [AlO₄^–] tetrahedra substituting directly for [GaO₄^–] tetrahedra. Yttrium and gadolinium act as "atypical" modifier ions because of their large field strengths. Finally, the properties of the La₂O₃-substituted glasses indicate a possible dual structural role for La³⁺ ions in these glasses.     

Effect of Molybdenum on the Structure and on the Crystallization of SiO2–Na2O–CaO–B2O3 Glasses

Crystallization of the poorly durable Na₂MoO₄ phase able to incorporate radioactive cesium must be avoided in SiO₂–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃–Na₂O–CaO glasses developed for the immobilization of Mo-rich nuclear wastes. Increasing amounts of B₂O₃ and MoO₃ were added to a SiO₂–Na₂O–CaO glass, and crystallization tendency was studied. Na₂MoO₄ crystallization tendency decreased with the increase of B₂O₃ concentration whereas the tendency of CaMoO₄ to crystallize increased due to preferential charge compensation of BO₄⁻ entities by Na⁺ ions. ²⁹Si MAS NMR showed that molybdenum acts as a reticulating agent in glass structure. Trivalent actinides surrogate (Nd³⁺) were shown to enter into CaMoO₄ crystals formed in glasses.     

Effect of Alkali Metal Oxide Addition on the Sinterability of MgO–B2O3–Al2O3 Glass–Al2O3 Filler Composites

The sintering of a composite of MgO–B₂O₃–Al₂O₃ glass and Al₂O₃ filler is terminated due to the crystallization of Al₄B₂O₉ in the glass. The densification of a composite of MgO–B₂O₃–Al₂O₃ glass and Al₂O₃ filler using pressureless sintering was accomplished by lowering the sintering temperature of the composite. The sintering temperature was lowered by the addition of small amounts of alkali metal oxides to the MgO–B₂O₃–Al₂O₃ glass system. The resultant composite has a four-point bending strength of 280 MPa, a coefficient of thermal expansion (RT—200°C) of 4.4 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, a dielectric constant of 6.0 at 1 MHz, porosity of approximately 1%, and moisture resistance.     

New Compound in the System La2O3-Al2O3

A new compound, 5La₂O₃-2Al₂O₃, is formed from an amorphous material prepared by the simultaneous hydrolysis of lanthanum and aluminurn alkoxides. It has an orthorhombic unit cell with a=0.9704 nm, b=0.5967 nm, and c=1.5473 nm. The structure contains tetrahedral AlO₄ groups and octahedral AlO₆ groups.     

Quaternary System Al2O3–CaO–MgO–SiO2: I, Study of the Crystallization Volume of Al2O3

Compatibility relations of Al₂O₃ in the quaternary system Al₂O₃–CaO–MgO–SiO₂ were studied by firing and quenching followed by microstructural and energy-dispersive X-ray examination. A projection of the liquidus surface of the primary phase volume of Al₂O₃ was constructed in terms of the CaO, SiO₂, and MgO contents of the mixtures recalculated to 100 wt%. Two invariant points, where four solids coexist with a liquid phase, were defined, and the positions of the isotherms were tentatively established. The effect of SiO₂, MgO, and CaO impurities on Al₂O₃ growth also was studied.     

Phase Relations and Lattice Constants in the MgO-Al2O3-Ga2O3 System at 1550°C

Phase relations and lattice constants in the MgO–Al₂O₃–Ga₂O₃ system at 1550°C have been determined experimentally. In a large part of this system, only a nonstoichiometric spinel is stable. Compositions as extreme as 12.5 mol% MgO–20.5 mol% Ga₂O₃–67 mol% Al₂O₃ for a homogeneous spinel are possible. In the bordering phase diagrams of MgO–Al₂O₃ and MgO–Ga₂O₃, the composition of the spinel is as high as 63 mol% Al₂O₃ or Ga₂O₃, respectively. The contributions of all simple ionic exchange reactions on the lattice constant of the spinel have been deduced from X-ray diffractometry data.     

Homogeneous Fabrication of Al2O3–ZrO2–SiC Whisker Composite by Surface-Induced Coating

Al₂O₃–ZrO₂–SiC whisker composites were prepared by surface-induced coating of the precursor for the ZrO₂ phase on the kinetically stable colloid particles of Al₂O₃ and SiC whisker. The fabricated composites were characterized by a uniform spatial distribution of ZrO₂ and SiC whisker phases throughout the Al₂O₃ matrix. The fracture toughness values of the Al₂O₃–15 vol% ZrO₂–20 vol% SiC whisker composites (∼12 MPa.m^1/2) are substantially greater than those of comparable Al₂O₃–SiC whisker composites, indicating that both the toughening resulting from the process zone mechanism and that caused by the reinforced SiC whiskers work simultaneously in hot-pressed composites.     

Phase Formation in the System Na2O · Al2O3-CaO · A12O3-Al2O3 at 1200°C in Air

Phase relations in the system Na₂O_· Al₂O₃-CaO· Al₂O₃-Al₂O₃ at 1200°C in air were determined using the quenching method and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The compound 2Na₂O · 3CaO · 5Al₂O₃, known from the literature, was reformulated as Na₂O · CaO · 2Al₂O₃. A new compound with the probable composition Na₂O · 3CaO · 8Al₂O₃ was found. Cell parameters of both compounds were determined. The compound Na₂O · CaO-2Al₂O₃ is tetragonal with a = 1.04348(24) and c = 0.72539(31) nm; it forms solid solutions with Na₂O · Al₂O₃ up to 38 mol% Na₂O at 1200°C. The compound Na₂O · 3CaO · 8Al₂O₃ is hexagonal with) a = 0.98436(4) and c = 0.69415(4) nm. The compound CaO · 6Al₂O₃ is not initially formed from oxide components at 1200°C but behaves as an equilibrium phase when it is formed separately at higher temperatures. The very slow transformation kinetics between β and β "-Al₂O₃ make it very difficult to determine equilibrium phase relations in the high-Al₂O₃ part of the diagram. Conclusions as to lifetime processes in high-pressure sodium discharge lamps can be drawn from the phase diagram.     

The System Al2O3-Cr2O3-Sio2

Liquidus phase equilibrium data are presented for the system Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃-SiO₂. The liquidus diagram is dominated by a large, high-temperature, two-liquid region overlying the primary phase field of corundum solid solution. Other important features are a narrow field for mullite solid solution, a very small cristobalite field, and a ternary eutectic at 1580°C. The eutectic liquid (6Al₂O₃-ICr₂O₃-93SiO₂) coexists with a mullite solid solution (61Al₂O₃-10Cr₂O₃-29SiO₂), a corundum solid solution (19Al₂O₃-81Cr₂O₃), and cristobalite (SO₂). Diagrams are presented to show courses of fractional crystallization, courses of equilibrium crystallization, and phase relations on isothermal planes at 1800°, 1700°, and 1575°C. Tie lines were sketched to indicate the composition of coexisting mullite and corundum solid solution phases.     

Strength and Fracture Toughness of Isostatically Hot-Pressed Composites of Al2O3 and Y2O3-Partially-Stabilized ZrO2

Composites of Al₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ partially-stabilized ZrO₂ were isostatically hot-pressed using submicrometer powders as the starting material. The addition of Al₂O₃ resulted in a large increase in bending strength. The average bending strength for a composite containing 20 wt% Al₂O₃ was 2400 MPa, and its fracture toughness was 17 MN·w^−3/2     

Quaternary System Al2O3–CaO–MgO–SiO2: II Study of the Crystallization Volume of MgAl2O4

Solid-state compatibility and melting relations of MgAl₂O₄ in the quaternary system Al₂O₃–CaO–MgO–SiO₂ were studied by firing and quenching selected samples located in the 65 wt% MgAl₂O₄, plane followed by microstructural and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. A projection of the liquidus surface of the primary crystallization volume of MgAl₂O₄ was constructed from CaO, SiO₂ and exceeding Al₂O₃, not involved in stoichiometric MgAl₂O₄ formation; those three amounts were recalculated to 100 wt%. The temperature and character of six invariant points, where four solids co-exist with a liquid phase, were defined. One maximum point was localized and the positions of the isotherms were tentatively established. The effect of CaO, SiO₂, and Al₂O₃ impurities on the high temperature behavior of spinel materials was also discussed.     

High-Temperature Elastic Properties of Polycrystalline MgO and Al2O3

Adiabatic bulk modulus, B_s , of polycrystalline MgO and Al₂O₃ was measured from 298° to 1473°K using the resonance technique. The Grüneisen constant, calculated from the measured bulk modulus, was constant over the whole temperature range (1.53 for MgO and 1.34 for Al₂O₃). Another important parameter,     , is constant at high temperature and is 3.1 for MgO and 3.6 for Al₂O₃. The Poisson's ratio increases linearly with temperature for MgO and Al₂O₃. To describe the change of bulk modulus with temperature a theoretical equation was verified by using the foregoing constants. A practical form of this theoretical equation is where B_s⁰ is the adiabatic bulk modulus at 0°K, δ is the quantity     , γ is the Grüneisen constant, H is the enthalpy. The experimental data are described very well by this equation, which is equivalent to the empirical equation suggested by Wachtman et al., B_s^T= B_s⁰ - CT exp (-T_c/T) , where C and T_c are empirical constants.     

Subsolidus Phase Relationships in the System Fe2O3–Al2O3–TiO2 between 1000° and 1300°C

Subsolidus phase equilibria in the system Fe₂O₃–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ were investigated between 1000° and 1300°C. Quenched samples were examined using powder X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalytical methods. The main features of the phase relations were: (a) the presence of an M₃O₅ solid solution series between end members Fe₂TiO₅ and Al₂TiO₅, (b) a miscibility gap along the Fe₂O₃–Al₂O₃ binary, (c) an α-M₂O₃( ss ) ternary solid-solution region based on mutual solubility between Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂, and (d) an extensive three-phase region characterized by the assemblage M₃O₅+α-M₂O₃( ss ) + Cor( ss ). A comparison of results with previously established phase relations for the Fe₂O₃–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ system shows considerable discrepancy.     

Synthesis of AlN Nanopowder from γ-Al2O3 by Reduction–Nitridation in a Mixture of NH3–C3H8

Aluminum nitride (AlN) powders were synthesized by gas reduction–nitridation of γ-Al₂O₃ using NH₃ and C₃H₈ as the reactant gases. AlN was identified in the products synthesized at 1100°–1400°C for 120 min in the NH₃–C₃H₈ gas flow confirming that AlN can be formed by the gas reduction–nitridation of γ-Al₂O₃. The products synthesized at 1100°C for 120 min contained unreacted γ-Al₂O₃. The ²⁷A1 MAS NMR spectra show that Al–N bonding in the product increases with increasing reaction temperature, the tetrahedral AlO₄ resonance decreasing prior to the disappearance of the octahedral AlO₆ resonance. This suggests that the tetrahedral AlO₄ sites of the γ-Al₂O₃ are preferentially nitrided than the AlO₆ sites. AlN nanoparticles were directly formed from γ-Al₂O₃ at low temperature because of this preferred nitridation of AlO₄ sites in the reactant. AlN nanoparticles are formed by gas reduction–nitridation of γ-Al₂O₃ not only because the reaction temperature is sufficiently low to restrict grain growth, but also because γ-Al₂O₃ contains both AlO₄ and AlO₆ sites, by contrast with α-Al₂O₃ which contains only AlO₆.