Abnormal variation of microwave dielectric properties in A/B site co-substituted (Ca1−0.3xLa0.2x)[(Mg1/3Ta2/3)1−xTix]O3 complex perovskite ceramics

A/B site co-substituted (Ca_1?0.3xLa_0.2x)[(Mg_1/3Ta_2/3)_1?xTi_x]O₃ ceramics (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) were prepared by solid state reaction and the structures, microstructures and dielectric properties were investigated. B site 1:2 cation ordering and oxygen octahedra tilting lead to monoclinic symmetry with space group P2₁/c for x = 0.1. For x above 0.1, the ordering was destroyed and the crystal structure became orthorhombic with space group Pbnm. The B site 1:2 cation ordering tended to be destroyed to form 1:1 ordering by the A site La³⁺ substitution. The dielectric constant increased linearly with increasing content of Ti⁴⁺ as the increasing second Jahn–Teller distortion enhanced the B site cation rattling. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency and Qf values showed abnormal variations, which were refined to be caused by the increasing A site cation vacancy and diffused distribution of small size ordering domains respectively. Good combination of microwave dielectric properties was obtained at x = 0.5, where ?_r = 48, Qf = 21,000 GHz and τ_f = 2.2 ppm/°C.     

Synthesis and characterisation of La(Co1/2Ti1/2)O3

Single phase, dense La(Co_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃ (LCT) ceramics have been fabricated using conventional solid state synthesis. Samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and their dielectric properties were studied at radio and microwave frequencies. X-ray and electron diffraction conclusively revealed that LCT contained in-phase and antiphase rotations of the O-octahedra, consistent with and a⁻a⁻c⁺ tilt system in the Glazer classification. However, XRD indicated that the Co and Ti ions were disordered on the B-site whereas TEM and Raman spectroscopy exhibited reflections and modes which suggested that partial ordering may be present. Moreover, some Raman bands could only be explained by assuming that at least some of the octahedra exhibited a Jahn–Teller distortion. Dielectric measurements indicated that LCT is insulating with low dielectric loss, 0.0024 at 1 MHz and frequency independent relative permittivity, ε_r=25. A quality factor, Q×f_o=38,000 was obtained at microwave frequencies along with a temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency, TCF=−42 MK⁻¹.     

Ionic conductivity of Mn2+ doped dense tin pyrophosphate electrolytes synthesized by a new co-precipitation method

Mn²⁺-doped Sn_1−xMn_xP₂O₇ (x = 0–0.2) are synthesized by a new co-precipitation method using tin(II)oxalate as tin(IV) precursor, which gives pure tin pyrophosphate at 300 °C, as all the reaction by-products are vaporizable at <150 °C. The dopant Mn²⁺ acts as a sintering aid and leads to dense Sn_1−xMn_xP₂O₇ samples on sintering at 1100 °C. Though conductivity of Sn_1−xMn_xP₂O₇ samples in the ambient atmosphere is 10⁻⁹–10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ in 300–550 °C range, it increases significantly in humidified (water vapor pressure, pH₂O = 0.12 atm) atmosphere and reaches >10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ in 100–200 °C range. The maximum conductivity is shown by Sn_0.88Mn_0.12P₂O₇ with 9.79 × 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ at 550 °C in ambient air and 2.29 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 190 °C in humidified air. It is observed that the humidification of Sn_1−xMn_xP₂O₇ samples is a slow process and its rate increases at higher temperature. The stability of Sn_1−xMn_xP₂O₇ samples is analyzed.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions by adsorption on modified sand

Studies on the removal of copper by adsorption on modified sand have been investigated. The adsorbent was characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM. Removal of Cu was carried out in batch mode. The values of thermodynamic parameters namely ΔG⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ at 25 °C were found to be −0.230 kcal⁻¹ mol⁻¹, +4.73 kcal⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and +16.646 cal K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The process of removal was governed by pseudo second order rate equation and value of k₂ was found to be 0.122 g mg⁻¹ min⁻¹ at 25 °C. The resultant data can serve as baseline data for designing treatment plants at industrial scale.     

Diphasic aluminosilicate gels with two stage mullitization in temperature range of 1200–1300 °C

The crystallization of mullite in amorphous diphasic gel aged for 6 months has been studied using non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction with Rietveld structure refinement analysis. The diphasic premullite gels undergo structural changes by aging even when they are calcined at 700 °C. These changes imply segregation of the sample to Al₂O₃-rich and SiO₂-rich regions. From the Al₂O₃-rich region crystallizes poorly defined AlSi spinel at 977 °C followed by two-step mullite crystallization in the temperature interval of 1200–1300 °C. Two overlapped exothermic peaks on DSC scan of aged gel were observed; the first at 1233 °C and the second at 1261 °C. The former is attributed to mullite crystallization by transformation of AlSi spinel, by which excess alumina occurs, which in the second step of mullitization reacts with amorphous SiO₂-rich phase. The activation energy for mullite crystallization in the first step was E_a=935±14 kJ mol⁻¹ and the Avrami exponent n=2.5. The values E_a=1119±25 kJ mol⁻¹ and n=1.2 were obtained for mullite formation in the second step. If amorphous SiO₂-rich phase is extracted from the sample, the value E_a=805±26 kJ mol⁻¹ is obtained. Mullite crystallizing from AlSi spinel (when SiO₂-rich phase has been extracted) differentiates compositionally from that formed by both reactions. Smaller unit cell parameters and higher amount of oxygen vacancies are incorporated into tetrahedral positions of mullite structure, as was determined by Rietveld structure refinement method.     

Ionic/electronic mixed conduction relations in perovskite-type oxides by defect structure

Perovskite-type oxides La_1-aA_aM_1-bB_bO_3-x with A=Sr²⁺, Ln³⁺, Ce⁴⁺ and M=Fe, Co, Ga; B=Co, Fe, Mg were prepared in the concentration range a=0·1 to 1 mol and b=0·1 to 0·5 mol. Additionally, A-substoichiometric compositions were prepared. Preparation conditions for monophase materials and structure types of the perovskite were determined by X-ray investigation. The electrical conductivity as a function of pO₂ in the range 10⁵>pO₂>10⁻¹⁴ Pa and temperature (500 to 1000°C) was measured on ceramic shapes by a dc four-point technique in combination with solid electrolyte coulometry. The ionic part of conductivity in mixed conductors was determined by oxygen permeation measurements. The II–III-perovskites Sr(Co,Fe)O_3-x in their stabilized form are excellent mixed conductors (maximum 500 S cm⁻¹ at 400°C) and have up to 2 orders of magnitude higher oxygen ionic conductivity than the preferred III–III-perovskite La(Sr)Mn(Co)O_3-x. The oxygen ionic conductivity of the electrolyte La(Sr)Ga(Mg)O_3-x, was increased by doping with 0·1 mol Co. By applying higher Co or Fe doping concentrations the lanthanum gallate, becomes a mixed conductor.     

Temperature-insensitive dielectric and piezoelectric properties in (1-x)K0.5Na0.5Nb0.997Cu0.0075O3-xSrZrO3 ceramics

Systematic investigation on phase transition, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5Nb_0.997Cu_0.0075O₃-xSrZrO₃ (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, 0.15, abbreviated as KNNC-100xSZ) ceramics was carried out. Due to the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phase in a wide temperature range, a diffused polymorphic phase transition (PPT) region was achieved in KNNC with x ≥ 0.06. KNNC-12SZ ceramics exhibited high dielectric permittivity (∼1679), low dielectric loss (∼0.02) and small variation (Δe'/ε'_25 °C ≤ 15%) in dielectric permittivity from −78 °C to 237.3 °C. KNNC-6SZ ceramic possessed a high level of unipolar strain (∼0.15%) and maintained a smaller variation of ±12% under the corresponding electric field of 60 kV cm⁻¹ at 10 Hz from 25 °C to 175 °C. d₃₃^*, which was calculated according to the unipolar strain at 60 kV cm⁻¹, was 230 pm V⁻¹ and remained stable below 100 °C. Therefore, our work provided a new promising candidate for temperature-insensitive capacitors and piezoelectric actuators.     

Extraction kinetics of pre-pelletized Jalapeño peppers with supercritical CO2

The aim of this work was to assess and model supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂) extraction kinetics of pre-pelletized Jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Pepper flakes were conditioned to low moisture, ground finely and pelletized at high pressure, and pellets were subsequently ground and size classified. The effects of average sample particle size (D_p=0.28–3.19 mm) and superficial solvent velocity (U_s=0.14–2.62 mm s⁻¹) were evaluated at 40 °C and 120 or 320 bar. Extraction rate increased as a result of a decrease in D_p. It also increased as a result of an increase in U_s at 120 bar, but the effect was almost negligible at 320 bar. Integral extraction yields of capsicum oleoresin and capsaicinoids were ≈0.102 g g⁻¹ and ≈240 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, independent of extraction conditions. External mass transfer coefficients (k_f) increased with U_s, but this effect was less pronounced than commonly reported in the literature. Values of k_f increased as D_p or process pressure decreased, due respectively to increments in specific area and improvements in transport properties. Internal mass transfer coefficients, on the other hand, were 5.3×10⁻⁸ m s⁻¹ at 40 °C and 120 bar, and 34.7×10⁻⁸ m s⁻¹ at 40 °C and 320 bar. Solutes were effectively liberated from the original matrix with our multistage pretreatment, so that the fraction of free solute did not depend on D_p (α=0.46). Pseudosolubilities for capsicum oleoresin in ScCO₂ (≈2100 mg l⁻¹ at 40 °C and 120 bar; ≈13,700 mg l⁻¹ solute/CO₂ at 40 °C and 320 bar) were of the same order of magnitude as corresponding true solubilities of capsaicin (5600 and 11,800 mg l⁻¹, respectively). Estimated true solubilities of chlorophyll-a in ScCO₂ (2 mg l⁻¹ at 40 °C and 120 bar; 18 mg l⁻¹ at 40 °C and 320 bar), on the other hand, were orders of magnitude smaller, which justifies a much slower extraction rate for green pigments than pungent compounds. Thus, oleoresin obtained after 4 h at 40 °C and 120 bar had a very attractive light yellow tinge.     

The decrease of depolarization temperature and the improvement of pyroelectric properties by doping Ta in lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics

Ta-doped lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xTa (x=0.0–1.0%) ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. The depolarization temperature (T_d) shifted to lower temperature with the increase of Ta content. The pyroelectric coefficient (p) of doped ceramics greatly enhanced compared with undoped material and reached a maximum of 7.14×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at room temperature (RT) and 146.1×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at T_d at x=0.2%. The figure of merits, F_i and F_v, also showed a great improvement from 1.12×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.021 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.0 to 2.55×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.033 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.2% at RT. Furthermore, F_i and F_v show the huge improvement to 52.2×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.48×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x=0.2%. F_C shows a value between 2.26 and 2.42 ×10⁻⁹ C cm⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x=0.2%. The improved pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-0.002Ta ceramics a promising infrared detector material.     

Structural determination and microwave properties of (x)Re(Co1/2Ti1/2)O3–(1 − x)CaTiO3 (Re = La and Nd) solid solutions

Solid solutions of (x)Re(Co_1/2Ti_1/2)O₃–(1 − x)CaTiO₃ (Re = La and Nd, abbreviated to xLCT and xNCT, respectively) where x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 have been fabricated using solid state synthesis. Samples have been examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their dielectric properties measured at microwave (MW) frequencies. Formation of single phase solid solutions were confirmed by XRD and the measured lattice parameters varied linearly from LCT (a = 5.66 Å, b = 7.867 Å and c = 5.494 Å) and NCT (a = 5.636 Å, b = 7.914 Å and c = 5.461 Å) to CT (a = 5.596 Å, b = 7.731 Å and c = 5.424 Å). XRD and TEM confirmed both in-phase and antiphase rotations of O-octahedra consistent with an a⁻a⁻c⁺ tilt system across the entire solid solution series. Electron diffraction revealed that LCT and NCT have reflections associated with B-site cation ordering which is absent for x ≤ 0.75. MW dielectric measurements showed that LCT and NCT were highly insulating with microwave quality factor (Qf₀) values of 39,000 and 34,000, respectively. Compositions anticipated to have a zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) are 0.48LCT-CT and 0.52NCT-CT with ɛ_r = 45 and Qf₀ ∼ 5000 and ɛ_r = 43 and Qf₀ ∼ 4000, respectively.     

Enhancement of pyroelectric properties of lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics by La doping

Lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xLa ceramics at x = 0.0–1.0 (%) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. With increasing La³⁺ content pyroelectric coefficient (p) and figures of merits greatly increase; however, the depolarization temperature (T_d) decreases. p is 7.24 × 10⁻⁴C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x = 0.5% and 105.4 × 10⁻⁴C.m^−2 °C⁻¹ at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_i and F_v show improvements at RT from 1.12 (x = 0%) to 2.65 (x10 ⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹) (x = 0.5%) and from 0.021 to 0.048 (m².C⁻¹) respectively. F_i and F_v show a huge increase to 37.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.56 m² C⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_C shows values of 2.10, 2.89, and 2.98 (x10⁻⁹C cm⁻² °C⁻¹) at RT at 33, 100 and 1000 (Hz) respectively. Giant pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-xLa at x = 0.2% and 0.5% promising materials for many pyroelectric applications.     

Temperature-stable and high-ɛ dielectric ceramics based on Ag (Nb1−xTax)O3

The dielectric properties of novel dielectric system AgNb_1−xTa_xO₃ (ANT) have been studied in this paper. In this system, the temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) can be adjusted to 0 ± 30 × 10⁻⁶/°C by choosing proper molar ratio of Nb⁵⁺ to Ta⁵⁺. When 2 wt% glass is added to the ceramics, the sintering temperature is reduced to 960 °C, which restrains Ag⁺ decomposition in ambient atmosphere. It is noted that the dielectric loss reduces further after adding 2.5 wt% Sb₂O₅. The dielectric properties of the resultant samples are as follows: dielectric constant ɛ ≈ 512, loss tangent tan δ ≈ 5.2 × 10⁻⁴, and TCC ≈ 10 × 10⁻⁶/°C.     

Structures and microwave dielectric properties of Ca(1−x)Nd2x/3TiO3 ceramics

Ca_(1?x)Nd_2x/3TiO₃ microwave dielectric ceramics were prepared by the mixed oxide route; powders were calcined at 1100 °C and sintered at 1450–1500 °C. High density, single phase products were obtained for all compositions. Grain sizes ranged from 1 μm to 100 μm. There was evidence of significant discontinuous grain growth in mid range compositions; all ceramics were characterised by complex domain structures. With increasing Nd content there was a evidence of a transition from an orthorhombic Pbnm structure to a monoclinic C2/m structure. This was accompanied by a decrease in relative permittivity (?_r) from 180 to 78, and decrease in the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) from +770 ppm K^?1 to +200 ppm K^?1. The product of dielectric Q value and resonant frequency (Q × f) varied in a grossly non-systematic way, exhibiting a peak at 13,000 GHz in Ca_0.7Nd_0.2TiO₃.     

Influence of Yb3+ doping on phase stability and thermophysical properties of (Y1-xYbx)3Al5O12 under high temperature

In this work, Yb³⁺ was selected to replace the Y³⁺ in yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) in order to reduce its thermal conductivity under high temperature. A series of (Y_1-xYb_x)₃Al₅O₁₂ (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) ceramics were prepared by solid-state reaction at 1600 °C for 10 h. The microstructure, thermophysical properties and phase stability under high temperature were investigated. The results showed that all the Yb doped (Y_1-xYb_x)₃Al₅O₁₂ ceramics were comprised of a single garnet-type Y₃Al₅O₁₂ phase. The thermal conductivities of (Y_1-xYb_x)₃Al₅O₁₂ ceramics firstly decreased and subsequently increased with Yb ions concentration rising from room temperature to 1200 °C. (Y_0.7Yb_0.3)₃Al₅O₁₂ had the lowest thermal conductivity among investigated specimens, which was about 1.62 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 1000 °C, around 30% lower than that of pure YAG (2.3 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, 1000 °C). Yb had almost no effect on the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of (Y_1-xYb_x)₃Al₅O₁₂ ceramics and the CTE was approximate 10.7×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 1200 °C. In addition, (Y_0.7Yb_0.3)₃Al₅O₁₂ ceramic remained good phase stability when heating from room temperature to 1450 °C.     

Effect of Nd-doping on structural,thermal and electrochemical properties of LaFe0.5Cr0.5O3 perovskites

The structural, thermal and electrochemical properties of the perovskite-type compound La_1−xNd_xFe_0.5Cr_0.5O₃ (x=0.10, 0.15, 0.20) are investigated by X-ray diffraction, thermal expansion, thermal diffusion, thermal conductivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements. Rietveld refinement shows that the compounds crystallize with orthorhombic symmetry in the space group Pbnm. The average thermal expansion coefficient decreases as the content of Nd increases. The average coefficient of thermal expansion in the temperature range of 30–850 °C is 10.12×10⁻⁶, 9.48×10⁻⁶ and 7.51×10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ for samples with x=0.1, 0.15 and 0.2, respectively. Thermogravimetric analyses show small weight gain at high temperatures which correspond to filling up of oxygen vacancies as well as the valence change of the transition metals. The electrical conductivity measured by four-probe method shows that the conductivity increases with the content of Nd; the electrical conductivity at 520 °C is about 4.71×10⁻³, 6.59×10⁻³ and 9.62×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ for samples with x=0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively. The thermal diffusivity of the samples decreases monotonically as temperature increases. At 600 °C, the thermal diffusivity is 0.00425, 0.00455 and 0.00485 cm² s⁻¹ for samples with x=0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively. Impedance measurements in symmetrical cell arrangement in air reveal that the polarization resistance decreases from 55 Ω cm⁻² to 22.5 Ω cm⁻² for increasing temperature from 800 °C to 900 °C, respectively.     

Structure and properties of La(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3

(La,Nd)(Zn,Mg)_0.5Ti_0.5O₃ compounds are of great interest for microwave dielectric applications, although the structure of some of these complex perovskites is still uncertain. The perovskite tolerance factors in this family of compounds range from 0.916 to 0.952, suggesting a very high degree of tilting in the oxygen octahedra for compositions throughout the system. The effects of this tilting in La(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃, for example, have been observed in this study by transmission electron microscopy in the form of 1/2{3 1 1}_c and 1/2{1 3 1} α superlattice reflections and 1/2(2 3 1)_c γ reflections corresponding to anti-phase and in-phase tilting, respectively. Systematic La⁺³ displacement was also detected by the appearance of {h + 1/2, k, l}_c (β) reflections. Reflections of the type 1/2{1 1 1}_c in neutron diffraction patterns indicate 1:1 cation ordering on the B-site. Electrical tests show no piezoelectricity in La(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃, indicating a centrosymmetric point group. Rietveld refinements of neutron diffraction patterns indicate that the space group is P2₁/n, with lattice constants a = 7.8943 Å, b = 5.5959 Å, c = 5.5805 Å, and β = 90.0291°.     

Synthesis,structure and oxygen thermally programmed desorption spectra of La1−xCaxAlyFe1−yO3−δ perovskites

Perovskites La_1−xCa_xAl_yFe_1−yO_3−δ (x, y = 0 to 1) were prepared by high-temperature solid-state synthesis based on mixtures of oxides produced by colloidal milling. The XRD analysis showed that perovskites La_0.5Ca_0.5Al_yFe_1−yO_3−δ with a high Fe content (1 − y = 0.8–1.0) were of orthorhombic structure, perovskites with a medium Fe content (1 − y = 0.8–0.5) were of rhombohedral structure, and perovskite with the lowest Fe content (1 − y = 0.2) were of cubic structure. Thermally programmed desorption (TPD) of oxygen revealed that chemical desorption of oxygen in the temperature range from 200 to 1000 °C had proceeded in the two desorption peaks. The low-temperature α-peak (in the 200–550 °C temperature range) was brought about by oxygen liberated from oxygen vacancies; the high-temperature β-peak (in the 550–1000 °C temperature range) corresponded to the reduction of Fe⁴⁺ to Fe³⁺. The chemidesorption oxygen capacity increased with increasing Ca content and decreased with increasing Al content in the perovskites. The Al³⁺ ions restricted, probably for kinetic reasons, the reduction of Fe⁴⁺ and the high-temperature oxygen desorption associated with it.     

The phase stability and thermophysical properties of InFeO3(ZnO)m (m = 2, 3, 4, 5)

The phase stability and thermophysical properties of InFeO₃(ZnO)_m (m = 2, 3, 4, 5) compounds were investigated, which are a general family of homologous layered compounds with general formula InFeO₃(ZnO)_m (m = 1–19). InFeO₃(ZnO)_m (m = 2, 3, 4, 5) ceramics were synthesized using cold pressing followed by solid-state sintering. They revealed an excellent thermal stability after annealing at 1450 °C for 48 h. No phase transformation occurred during heating to 1400 °C. InFeO₃(ZnO)₃ exhibited a thermal conductivity of 1.38 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 1000 °C, which is about 30% lower than that of 8 wt.% yttria stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) thermal barrier coatings. The thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of InFeO₃(ZnO)m bulk ceramics were in a range of (10.97 ± 0.33) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ to (11.46 ± 0.35) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 900 °C, which are comparable to those of 8YSZ ceramics.     

SPS processing of bismuth-layer structured ferroelectric ceramics yielding highly textured microstructures

The spark plasma sintering (SPS) behaviour of nano-sized Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT) and micron-sized CaBi₂Nb₂O₉ (CBNO) powders is described. The densification process of both powders is very rapid, i.e. the densification occurs within a very narrow time interval (2–3 min using a heating rate of 100 °C min⁻¹ and a pressure of 50 MPa). The BIT powder exhibits a lower densification onset temperature (∼650 °C) and higher maximum shrinkage rate (8.9 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 780 °C) than that of the CBNO powder (∼825 °C and 4.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 950 °C). Isothermal compaction studies revealed that fully dense nano-sized BIT compacts could be obtained within the temperature region 750 °C < T_iso < 850 °C while for T_iso > 850 °C compacts containing elongated platelet grains are formed. A new preparation route to produce highly textured compacts is described in detail. Appropriate pre-forms are prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and these fully dense compacts are subject to superplastic deformation in the SPS unit to achieve a total compressive strain of ∼60%. This strain was achieved within a period of 1.5 min and with a maximum strain rates of 1.1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ achieved at ∼840 °C and 1.3 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ at 1020 °C for the BIT and CBNO compacts, respectively. The X-ray studies showed that the Lotgering orientation factors of grains in the deformed BIT and CBNO compacts are 99% and 70%. The formation of highly textured compacts is suggested to be governed by a superplastic deformation-induced directional dynamic ripening mechanism.     

The formation of feldspar strontian (SrAl2Si2O8) via ceramic route: Reaction mechanism,kinetics and thermodynamics of the process

The reaction mechanism, the equilibrium composition, the temperature range of stability of formed intermediates as well as the kinetics and thermodynamics of activated state during the formation of monoclinic strontium-aluminum-silicate feldspar stroncian (SrAl₂Si₂O₈) via the ceramic route from the mixture of SrCO₃, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ is described in this work. Strontian does not appear up to the temperature of 1150 °C and is the only stable phase at the temperature ≥1600 °C. Three independent reactions lead to two parallel reaction pathways, i.e. the formation of strontian from single or binary oxides (1) and with Sr-gehlenite as the intermediate (2). Since the reaction rate constants ratio is higher than one (k₁/k₂>1), the first reaction route is favored according to the Wegscheider principle. The kinetics of chemical reaction of 1.5 order corresponding to the kinetic function F_2/3 ((1−α)^−1/2−1) was determined as the rate determining the mechanism of formation of strontian. The integral and differential methods show that the process requires average apparent activation energy of 229.3 kJ mol⁻¹. The determined average value of frequency factor is 2.1×10⁵ s⁻¹.