Effect of Ultrasonic-Assisted Preparation of Powders on Synthesis of Rare Earth Zirconates

The aim of the research was to determine the effect of sonochemical treatments on homogenization of powders as well as phase composition and thermal stability of sinters. The compounds were prepared from Eu2O3 and ZrO2 powders, weighed in the mass ratio 1:1. Initially ultrasound treatment was applied. 750-Watt ultrasonic processor VCX-750 equipped with sealed converter VC-334 and horn 630-0219 with the diameter of 13 mm (Sonics & Materials, Inc.) was used as a source of ultrasound. Applied ultrasound frequency was 20 kHz, power density was controlled in the range from 75 W/cm2 to 340 W/cm2. Investigated compounds were synthesized via solid-state reaction (SSR). The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used in order to investigate the effect of sonochemical treatment on the synthesis of prepared mixtures the powders particle size distribution was analyzed. Ultrasound treatment what wasn’t never been reported before

Synthesis and Thermal Properties of Europium-Cerium Oxide as a New Fluorite-Type Ceramic Material for Thermal Barrier Coatings Applications

In the present paper the structure and thermal properties of europium cerium oxides were investigated. The material for the research was obtained via solid state synthesis. The initial powders: ceria CeO2 and europia Eu2O3 were mixed in 1:1 mass ratio (non-stoichiometric proportion with the excess of CeO2) and milled. The sintering process was performed using high temperature vacuum press at 1350°C. Calorimetric analysis was conducted both for initial powders and milled mixture. The structure, phase composition and thermal diffusivity of obtained material were investigated in as-sintered condition. It was revealed that the obtained material was multi-phase. Non-stoichiometric phases including Ce0.5Eu0.5O1.75 with fluorite type structure and different lattice parameters were present. Thermal diffusivity decreased in the range from 25 to 900°C from 1.49 to 0.57 mm2 /s and then increased to 0.70 mm2 /s at 1400°C

Solid State Synthesis of Europium Zirconate Based Material

In the article, the characterization of the microstructure, phase composition and distribution of elements in the Eu2 O3 -ZrO2 sintered materials obtained by four different ways of powders’ homogenization (mixing) process and different temperature of sintering process is shown. The feedstock powders with an average mole ratio of ZrO2 to Eu2 O3 equal 74% to 26% were used as an initial material. The principal aim of the investigation was characterization of differences in the microstructure of the same type of ceramics, however, prepared via different mixing and manufacturing processes. The range of the investigation covered a characterization of these materials via phase identification of all samples by XRD (X-ray diffraction) and characterization of internal morphology of the specimens with detailed analysis of elements distributions by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and EDS (energy dispersive spectrometry). The aim of the following investigation is to characterize the possibilities of the solid state synthesis of the europium zirconate based materials, dedicated for TBC applications

Synthesis and Thermal Properties of Cerium-Dysprosium Oxide

The paper presents results of investigation on synthesis and characterization of cerium-dysprosium oxide. The input powders - dysprosium oxide Dy,sub>2O3 and cerium oxide CeO2 - were mixed so as to obtain equimolar ratio of cations, milled in alcohol and synthesized via solid state reaction process at 1350°C under 15MPa in vacuum for 2h. The microstructure, phase composition and thermal properties were analyzed. The obtained material was multiphase. Non-stoichiometric compounds were identified. Thermal diffusivity of investigated material decreased in the temperature range of 25-1000°C from 0,71 to 0,45 mm2/s

Synthesis and Characterization of Thermal Properties of Type Eu2O3-ZrO2 Sinters

The oxides with pyrochlore or defected fluorite structure are a potential alternative ceramic materials for now widely used yttria-stabilized zirconia 8YSZ in the application for the insulation layer of thermal barrier coatings systems. This paper presents a procedure of synthesis of europium zirconate of Eu2Zr2O7 type, by the method of high temperature sintering under pressure. The analysis of the effect of the powders` homogenization methods on homogeneity of final sintered material showed that the highest homogeneity can be obtained after mechanical mixing in alcohol. Moreover, the DSC investigation carried out on a mixture of powders before the sintering process and on the material after high temperature sintering under pressure, suggest the synthesis of a new phase an europium zirconate Eu2Zr2O7 with the pyrochlore structure. Obtained phase was characterized by stability over the entire range of tested temperature, i.e. to 1450°C. The resulting material based on europium zirconate has a lower coefficient of thermal diffusivity than the now widely used 8YSZ

Synthesis and Characterization of Thermal Properties of Type Eu2O3-ZrO2 Sinters

The oxides with pyrochlore or defected fluorite structure are a potential alternative ceramic materials for now widely used yttria-stabilized zirconia 8YSZ in the application for the insulation layer of thermal barrier coatings systems. This paper presents a procedure of synthesis of europium zirconate of Eu2Zr2O7 type, by the method of high temperature sintering under pressure. The analysis of the effect of the powders` homogenization methods on homogeneity of final sintered material showed that the highest homogeneity can be obtained after mechanical mixing in alcohol. Moreover, the DSC investigation carried out on a mixture of powders before the sintering process and on the material after high temperature sintering under pressure, suggest the synthesis of a new phase an europium zirconate Eu2Zr2O7 with the pyrochlore structure. Obtained phase was characterized by stability over the entire range of tested temperature, i.e. to 1450°C. The resulting material based on europium zirconate has a lower coefficient of thermal diffusivity than the now widely used 8YSZ

XRD study of Eu₂O₃-ZrO₂ feedstock powders and sintered materials

Presented article described synthesis process of nonstoichiometric europium zirconate by solid state reaction between weight-equal mixture of ZrO₂ and Eu₂O₃ feedstock powders. To final material synthesis high temperature vacuum press was used as well as a free standing process of sintering. As a result europium zirconates were obtained. X-ray diffraction characterization revealed that relatively homogeneous materials were synthesised but scanning electron microscopy analysis showed many areas with nonhomogeneous composition. On the base of X-ray diffraction patterns, characterization of crystallite size as well as a lattice strain were calculated. The Williamson-Hall, Halder-Wagner and Cauchy-Gauss methods were used to make the calculations. Obtained data showed that there was no significant differences between crystallite size with zirconate materials obtained by solid state reaction at temperature 1350°C in vacuum press and by free standing process. The short heating at higher temperature (1450°C/5 h) has no influence on crystallite size as well, but 24 h of additional heating strongly increases the crystallite size