This diploma thesis deals with the study of microstructure development during the final stage of sintering of two zirconia based ceramic materials (tetragonal ZrO2 doped with 3 mol% of Y2O3 and cubic ZrO2 doped with 8 mol% of Y2O3). Conventional, microwave and SPS sintering methods were used. Achieved relative densities and mean grain sizes were evaluated for sintered materials. It was found that the non-conventional sintering methods are capable of rapid processing of ceramics with improved microstructure compared to conventional sintering.

No description available.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate how the material KATANA ™ Zirconia YML is affected in strength depending on two different sintering programs. The evaluation of the strength was made by means of a biaxial flexural strength test.   Material and method: A total of 48 test specimens, 32 specimens were produced by KATANA ™ Zirconia YML and 16 specimen cups that formed the control group, by KATANA ™. Zirconia UTML. The specimens were designed as circular disks and were placed in two different layers in the disk, between Enamel-Body 1 and Body 2-Body 3. The specimens were divided into two subgroups of which 24 specimens were quickly sintered and the remaining (n = 24) specimens were conventionally sintered and the strength was evaluated with a biaxial flexural strength test.   Results: The highest mean value for the biaxial flexural strength test was shown by the test group which was high-speed sintered, with placement in Body 2 - Body 3. This was significant in comparison with other groups (p> 0.001) in addition to conventional sintered with the same placement in the disk. Both control groups showed low mean values ​​in comparison with the test groups, control group K (414 MPa) as the lowest in comparison with all other groups. When comparing the two control groups S and K, no significant difference was shown.   Conclusion: The bending strength varies depending on which layers are loaded regardless of fast and conventional sintering. The sintering parameters are significant for the bending strength. / Syfte: Syftet med föreliggande studie var att utvärdera hur materialet KATANA™ Zirconia YML påverkas i hållfasthet beroende av två olika sintringsprogram. Utvärderingen av hållfastheten gjordes med hjälp av ett biaxialt böjhållfasthetstest.   Material och metod: Totalt framställdes 48 provkroppar, 32 stycken framställdes av KATANA™ Zirconia YML och 16 provkoppar som utgjorde kontrollgrupp, av KATANA™. Zirconia UTML. Provkropparna var utformade som cirkulära diskar och dem placerades i två olika skikt i disken, mellan Enamel-Body 1 och Body 2-Body 3. Provkropparna delades in i två undergrupper varav 24 provkroppar snabbsintrades och resterande (n=24) provkroppar sintrades konventionellt och hållfastheten utvärderades med ett biaxialt böjhållfasthetstest.   Resultat: Högst medelvärde för det biaxiala böjhållfasthetstestet uppvisade testgruppen som snabbsintrats, med placering i Body 2 – Body 3. Detta var signifikant i jämförelse med övriga grupper (p > 0,001) förutom konventionellt sintrat med samma placering i disken. Båda kontrollgrupperna uppvisade låga medelvärden i jämförelse med testgrupperna, kontrollgrupp K (414 MPa) som lägst i jämförelse med alla övriga grupper. Vid jämförelse mellan de två kontrollgrupperna S och K uppvisades inte någon signifikant skillnad.   Slutsats: Böjhållfastheten varierar beroende på vilka skikt som belastas oavsett snabb- respektive konventionell sintring. Sintringsparametrarna är betydande för böjhållfastheten.

O galato de lantânio contendo substituições parciais de estrôncio e magnésio (La1-xSrxGa1-yMgyO3-δ) apresenta estrutura tipo perovsquita e alta condutividade para íons de oxigênio. Outras características desta cerâmica são o extenso domínio eletrolítico e a baixa condutividade eletrônica. É um material promissor para uso como eletrólito sólido em células a combustível de óxido sólido que operam em temperaturas intermediárias, devido sua alta condutividade iônica e estabilidade em uma ampla faixa de pressão parcial de oxigênio. Neste trabalho, a composição La0,9Sr0,1Ga0,8Mg0,2O3-δ foi preparada pelo método convencional de mistura de óxidos a partir de diferentes rotas e pelo método de complexação de cátions. As amostras foram consolidadas pelo método convencional de sinterização e por sinterização rápida. Pelo método de mistura de óxidos foi possível obter a fase ortorrômbica do LSGM, mas não foi possível eliminar as fases SrLaGaO4, La4Ga2O9 e SrLaGa3O7, independente das condições de sinterização utilizadas. Precipitados de óxido de magnésio foram observados nas amostras preparadas pelos dois métodos de síntese empregados identificados apenas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. As densidades obtidas foram superiores a 97% da densidade teórica em amostras sinterizadas a 1450 °C/4 h, para os materiais preparados por mistura de óxidos. Amostras preparadas por método de complexação de cátions e aquelas consolidadas por sinterização rápida apresentaram menores valores de densidade. Grãos de tamanhos micrométricos foram obtidos para os dois métodos de sinterização. Amostras calcinadas a 1250°C apresentaram maiores densidades e maiores valores de condutividade iônica dos grãos e dos contornos de grãos, quando comparadas com as demais amostras. / Lanthanum gallate with partial substitution on La and Ga sites (La1-xSrxGa1-yMgyO3-δ) has perovskite structure and high oxide-ion conductivity. Other properties of this ceramic material comprise a relatively wide electrolytic domain and low electron conductivity. Doped lanthanum gallate is a potential solid electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells due to its high ionic conductivity and stability in a wide range of oxygen partial pressure. In this work, the composition La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ was prepared by the conventional method of mixing of the starting oxides followed by different processing routes and by the cation complexation method. The ceramic specimens were consolidated by conventional sintering and by fast firing. All specimens prepared by solid state reaction show the characteristic orthorhombic phase of lanthanum gallate and SrLaGaO4, La4Ga2O9 and SrLaGa3O7 secondary phases, independent on the method of sintering. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy coupled to scanning electron microscopy evidenced that all prepared specimens contain MgO grains precipitated along the grain boundaries. High relative densities were obtained for specimens prepared by solid state reaction and consolidated by conventional sintering at 1450 °C/4 h. All specimens exhibit micron sized grains independent on the sintering method. The highest values of relative density and ionic conductivity were obtained for specimens calcined at 1250°C.

O galato de lantânio contendo substituições parciais de estrôncio e magnésio (La1-xSrxGa1-yMgyO3-δ) apresenta estrutura tipo perovsquita e alta condutividade para íons de oxigênio. Outras características desta cerâmica são o extenso domínio eletrolítico e a baixa condutividade eletrônica. É um material promissor para uso como eletrólito sólido em células a combustível de óxido sólido que operam em temperaturas intermediárias, devido sua alta condutividade iônica e estabilidade em uma ampla faixa de pressão parcial de oxigênio. Neste trabalho, a composição La0,9Sr0,1Ga0,8Mg0,2O3-δ foi preparada pelo método convencional de mistura de óxidos a partir de diferentes rotas e pelo método de complexação de cátions. As amostras foram consolidadas pelo método convencional de sinterização e por sinterização rápida. Pelo método de mistura de óxidos foi possível obter a fase ortorrômbica do LSGM, mas não foi possível eliminar as fases SrLaGaO4, La4Ga2O9 e SrLaGa3O7, independente das condições de sinterização utilizadas. Precipitados de óxido de magnésio foram observados nas amostras preparadas pelos dois métodos de síntese empregados identificados apenas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. As densidades obtidas foram superiores a 97% da densidade teórica em amostras sinterizadas a 1450 °C/4 h, para os materiais preparados por mistura de óxidos. Amostras preparadas por método de complexação de cátions e aquelas consolidadas por sinterização rápida apresentaram menores valores de densidade. Grãos de tamanhos micrométricos foram obtidos para os dois métodos de sinterização. Amostras calcinadas a 1250°C apresentaram maiores densidades e maiores valores de condutividade iônica dos grãos e dos contornos de grãos, quando comparadas com as demais amostras. / Lanthanum gallate with partial substitution on La and Ga sites (La1-xSrxGa1-yMgyO3-δ) has perovskite structure and high oxide-ion conductivity. Other properties of this ceramic material comprise a relatively wide electrolytic domain and low electron conductivity. Doped lanthanum gallate is a potential solid electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells due to its high ionic conductivity and stability in a wide range of oxygen partial pressure. In this work, the composition La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ was prepared by the conventional method of mixing of the starting oxides followed by different processing routes and by the cation complexation method. The ceramic specimens were consolidated by conventional sintering and by fast firing. All specimens prepared by solid state reaction show the characteristic orthorhombic phase of lanthanum gallate and SrLaGaO4, La4Ga2O9 and SrLaGa3O7 secondary phases, independent on the method of sintering. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy coupled to scanning electron microscopy evidenced that all prepared specimens contain MgO grains precipitated along the grain boundaries. High relative densities were obtained for specimens prepared by solid state reaction and consolidated by conventional sintering at 1450 °C/4 h. All specimens exhibit micron sized grains independent on the sintering method. The highest values of relative density and ionic conductivity were obtained for specimens calcined at 1250°C.

Estudos recentes demonstram que o sistema cerâmico zircônia-escândia-céria (ScCeSZ) apresenta-se promissor para aplicações como eletrólito sólido em células a combustível de óxido sólido de temperaturas intermediárias de operação (600 a 800 °C). Neste trabalho, foi realizada a sinterização convencional, de duas etapas e assistida por campo elétrico do ZrO2 contendo 10% em mol de Sc2O3 e 1% em mol de CeO2 comercializado pela Fuel Cell Materials visando melhorar a densificação com reduzido tamanho médio de grãos. A condutividade elétrica de amostras densas de ScCeSZ sinterizadas pelos diferentes métodos foi investigada por espectroscopia de impedância. Diferentes condições de sinterização foram analisadas. A taxa de retração dos compactos é máxima a 1180 °C, determinada pela análise de dilatometria. Foi confirmado por difração de raios X que a adição de céria à zircônia-escândia promove a estabilização da fase cúbica à temperatura ambiente. No entanto, dependendo das condições de sinterização pode haver a formação de fases secundárias, as quais foram detectadas por difração de raios X e espectroscopia Raman. A sinterização assistida por campo elétrico promoveu a formação das fases cúbica e tetragonal. Considerando os métodos convencional e de duas etapas, para a obtenção do material cúbico monofásico é necessária uma seleção cuidadosa das condições de sinterização. Os valores de condutividade elétrica estão de acordo com as condutividades do ScCeSZ reportadas na literatura. / Recent reports show that scandia-and ceria-doped zirconia (ScCeSZ) is a promising material for application as solid electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells operating at intermediate temperatures (600 - 800 °C). In this work, ZrO2 containing 10 mol% Sc2O3 and 1 mol% CeO2 commercial powder (Fuel Cell Materials) was used to investigate the densification along with the mean grain size in specimens sintered by different methods: conventional, two-step sintering and electric field assisted sintering. The electrical conductivity of dense sintered specimens was studied by impedance spectroscopy. The linear shrinkage was followed by dilatometry. The maximum shrinkage rate of powder compacts was obtained at 1180 ºC. X-ray diffraction experiments revealed that ceria stabilizes the cubic phase of scandia-doped zirconia at room temperature. However, secondary phases (rhombohedric and tetragonal) were detected by both X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy depending on the sintering conditions. The field assisted sintering method resulted in specimens with cubic and tetragonal phases. In the case of conventional and two-step sintering methods, a careful selection of the temperatures and sintering times is essential to obtain a cubic single-phase material. Values of the electrical conductivity of ScCeSZ are in general agreement with those reported in the literature.

Estudos recentes demonstram que o sistema cerâmico zircônia-escândia-céria (ScCeSZ) apresenta-se promissor para aplicações como eletrólito sólido em células a combustível de óxido sólido de temperaturas intermediárias de operação (600 a 800 °C). Neste trabalho, foi realizada a sinterização convencional, de duas etapas e assistida por campo elétrico do ZrO2 contendo 10% em mol de Sc2O3 e 1% em mol de CeO2 comercializado pela Fuel Cell Materials visando melhorar a densificação com reduzido tamanho médio de grãos. A condutividade elétrica de amostras densas de ScCeSZ sinterizadas pelos diferentes métodos foi investigada por espectroscopia de impedância. Diferentes condições de sinterização foram analisadas. A taxa de retração dos compactos é máxima a 1180 °C, determinada pela análise de dilatometria. Foi confirmado por difração de raios X que a adição de céria à zircônia-escândia promove a estabilização da fase cúbica à temperatura ambiente. No entanto, dependendo das condições de sinterização pode haver a formação de fases secundárias, as quais foram detectadas por difração de raios X e espectroscopia Raman. A sinterização assistida por campo elétrico promoveu a formação das fases cúbica e tetragonal. Considerando os métodos convencional e de duas etapas, para a obtenção do material cúbico monofásico é necessária uma seleção cuidadosa das condições de sinterização. Os valores de condutividade elétrica estão de acordo com as condutividades do ScCeSZ reportadas na literatura. / Recent reports show that scandia-and ceria-doped zirconia (ScCeSZ) is a promising material for application as solid electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells operating at intermediate temperatures (600 - 800 °C). In this work, ZrO2 containing 10 mol% Sc2O3 and 1 mol% CeO2 commercial powder (Fuel Cell Materials) was used to investigate the densification along with the mean grain size in specimens sintered by different methods: conventional, two-step sintering and electric field assisted sintering. The electrical conductivity of dense sintered specimens was studied by impedance spectroscopy. The linear shrinkage was followed by dilatometry. The maximum shrinkage rate of powder compacts was obtained at 1180 ºC. X-ray diffraction experiments revealed that ceria stabilizes the cubic phase of scandia-doped zirconia at room temperature. However, secondary phases (rhombohedric and tetragonal) were detected by both X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy depending on the sintering conditions. The field assisted sintering method resulted in specimens with cubic and tetragonal phases. In the case of conventional and two-step sintering methods, a careful selection of the temperatures and sintering times is essential to obtain a cubic single-phase material. Values of the electrical conductivity of ScCeSZ are in general agreement with those reported in the literature.

Ce travail de thèse a pour objectif la caractérisation des propriétés physico-chimiques descéramiques de composition (1-x) BaTi0.8Zr0.2O3-x Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3 préparées par frittage conventionnelet frittage flash (SPS). Les études structurales réalisées au voisinage du point triple (x≈ 0.32) à l’aidede la diffraction des RX de haute résolution (synchrotron) sur poudre ont introduit des modificationsmajeures sur le diagramme de phase température-composition déjà proposé. La réponseélectromécanique géante mesurée est alors corrélée à la dégénérescence du profil de l’énergie libreinduite par les instabilités structurales. De plus, la flexibilité de la polarisation sous contraintesthermique et électrique est couplée à un assouplissement de la maille cristalline. Ces deuxcaractéristiques contribuent ensemble à une réponse électromécanique colossale via une forteactivité des murs de domaine. La dégradation des propriétés diélectriques, ferroélectriques etpiézoélectriques pour les céramiques BCTZ (x=0.32 et 0.5) élaborées par frittage flash estessentiellement attribuée aux fluctuations importantes de composition et à la stabilisation de laconfiguration des murs de domaines avec la diminution de la taille des grains. / The aim of this work is to make a full characterization of the structural, microstructural, dielectric,ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the perovskite-structured oxides (1-x) BaTi0.8Zr0.2O3-xBa0.7Ca0.3TiO3 prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method (conventional sintering) andSPS fabrication technique. Using high-resolution synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction, the structuralinvestigations carried out close to the triple point (x≈ 0.32) have introduced significant corrections tothe previously published composition-temperature phase diagram. The colossal electromechanicalresponse was then correlated to a strongly degenerate free energy landscape caused by structuralinstabilities. Furthermore, the coupling between the high polarization flexibility under electric andthermal stresses and the ‘lattice softening’ gives rise to a giant electromechanical response due tohigh domain wall activities. The decrease of the dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric propertiesof BCTZ ceramics (x=0.32 and 0.5) processed by SPS was essentially attributed to the largecompositional fluctuations and stable domain wall configurations as the grain size decreased.

In this thesis, the focus is on studying BaZrO3-BaCeO3 based proton conductors due to that they represent very promising proton conductors to be used for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (ITSOFCs). Here, dense BaZr0.5Ce0.3Y0.2O3-δ (BZCY532) ceramics were selected as the major studied materials. These ceramics were prepared by different sintering methods and doping strategies. Based on achieved results, the thesis work can simply be divided into the following parts: 1) An improved synthesis method, which included a water-based milling procedure followed by a freeze-drying post-processing, was presented. A lowered calcination and sintering temperature for a Hf0.7Y0.3O2-δ (YSH) compound was achieved. The value of the relative density in this work was higher than previously reported data. It is also concluded that this improved method can be used for mass-production of ceramics. 2) As the solid-state reactive sintering (SSRS) represent a cost-effective sintering method, the sintering behaviors of proton conductors BaZrxCe0.8-xLn0.2O3-δ (x = 0.8, 0.5, 0.1; Ln = Y, Sm, Gd, Dy) during the SSRS process were investigated. According to the obtained results, it was found that the sintering temperature will decrease, when the Ce content increases from 0 (BZCLn802) to 0.3 (BZCLn532) and 0.7 (BZCLn172). Moreover, the radii of the dopant ions similar to the radii of Zr4+ or Ce4+ ions show a better sinterability. This means that it is possible to obtain dense ceramics at a lower temperature. Moreover, the conductivities of dense BZCLn532 ceramics were determined. The conductivity data indicate that dense BZCY532 ceramics are good candidates as either oxygen ion conductors or proton conductors used for ITSOFCs. 3) The effect of NiO on the sintering behaviors, morphologies and conductivities of BZCY532 based electrolytes were systematically investigated. According to the achieved results, it can be concluded that the dense BZCY532B ceramics (NiO was added during ball-milling before a powder mixture calcination) show an enhanced oxygen and proton conductivity. Also, that BZCY532A (NiO was added after a powder mixture calcination) and BZCY532N (No NiO was added in the whole preparation procedures) showed lower values. In addition, dense BZCY532B and BZCY532N ceramics showed only small electronic conductivities, when the testing temperature was lower than 800 ℃. However, the BZCY532A ceramics revealed an obvious electronic conduction, when they were tested in the range of 600 ℃ to 800 ℃. Therefore, it is preferable to add the NiO powder during the BZCY532 powder preparation, which can lower the sintering temperature and also increase the conductivity. 4) Dense BZCY532 ceramics were successfully prepared by using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method at a temperature of 1350 ℃ with a holding time of 5 min. It was found that a lower sintering temperature (&lt; 1400 ℃) and a very fast cooling rate (&gt; 200 ℃/min) are two key parameters to prepare dense BZCY532 ceramics. These results confirm that the SPS technique represents a feasible and cost-effective sintering method to prepare dense Ce-containing BaZrO3-BaCeO3 based proton conductors. 5) Finally, a preliminary study for preparation of Ce0.8Sm0.2O2-δ (SDC) and BZCY532 basedcomposite electrolytes was carried out. The novel SDC-BZCY532 based composite electrolytes were prepared by using the powder mixing and co-sintering method. The sintering behaviors, morphologies and ionic conductivities of the composite electrolytes were investigated. The obtained results show that the composite electrolyte with a composition of 60SDC-40BZCY532 has the highest conductivity. In contrast, the composite electrolyte with a composition of 40SDC-60BZCY532 shows the lowest conductivity. In summary, the results show that BaZrO3-BaCeO3 based proton-conducting ceramic materials represent very promising materials for future ITSOFCs electrolyte applications. / <p>QC 20150423</p>