Densification behaviour of nano-size CeO2

Abstract

A nano-sized CeO2 powder was synthesized by a modified glycine nitrate process (MGNP). The synthesized powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The lattice parameter and crystallite size were determined by the Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns. The shrinkage kinetics of the green body was continuously monitored in air and in oxygen atmospheres using a high temperature dilatometer up to 1500 degrees C. During the high temperature sintering in redox reaction occurred (Ce4+ was partially reduced to Ce3+ and oxygen gas was released). The redox reaction influenced the sintering behaviour of CeO2, resulting in a decrease in density. On the basis of shrinkage kinetics data in oxygen atmosphere a master sintering curve for CeO2 was constructed. Using the concept of the master sintering curve, the densification behaviour in oxygen atmosphere was successfully predicted from early to final stages of sintering. During sintering of CeO2 at lower temperature in air atmosphere a significant contribution of the surface diffusion was observed.