Analysis of nonisothermal sintering of zinc-titanate ceramics doped with MgO

Abstract

The aim of this work is to analyze nonisothermal sintering of zinc titanate ceramics doped with MgO obtained by mechanical activation. Mixtures of ZnO, TiO 2, and MgO (0, 1.25, and 2.5%) are mechanically activated for 15 min in a planetary ball mill. Nonisothermal sintering is performed in air for 120 min at 800, 900, 1000, and 1100 °C. Microstructure parameters are revealed from an approximation method. Structural characterization of ZnO-TiO 2-MgO system after milling is performed at room temperature using XRPD measurements. The main conclusions are that mechanical activation leads to the particle size reduction, the increase of dislocation density, and lattice strain. Doped zinc titanate samples achieve higher densities after sintering and the diffusion mechanism is dominant during the sintering process. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.