Sintering and conductivity of Sc-doped CaZrO3 with Fe2O3 as a sintering aid

This paper reports the effect of 0.1–0.5 wt% Fe₂O₃ addition on sintering and electrical properties of CaZr_0.95Sc_0.05O_3-δ ceramics synthesized by combustion method. Addition of the sintering aid was shown to enhance ceramic densification and grain coarsening at a reduced sintering temperature and a shorter holding time (1430 °C, 2 h). Effect of the sintering aid on electrical conductivity of the ceramics was investigated using impedance spectroscopy. The highest total conductivity was achieved for the composition with 0.5 wt% Fe₂O₃; it was about an order of magnitude higher than that of the composition without Fe₂O₃. The effect of Fe₂O₃ addition on the conductivity of the grain interior and grain boundaries has been discussed. It was concluded that ceramic densification, grain coarsening and formation of small amounts of calcium ferrite at the grain boundaries upon Fe₂O₃ addition were responsible for the conductivity enhancement.