Sintering behavior of Y2O3 doped Bi2O3 ceramics
Influence of sintering temperature and soaking time on densification of Bi2O3 samples doped with 25%mol Y2O3 was investigated by shrinkage and relative density measurements. Samples were sintered in air at different temperatures in the range of 800 to 1000?C for 24 hr. The results showed that samples sintered at 950?C have the maximum relative density. Several samples were sintered at 950?C for duration of 0 to 36 hr in order to evaluate the effect of soaking time on densification of samples. It was found that the samples were sintered at 950?C for 36hr had higher relative density than others did for smaller time duration X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses detected ? -Bi2O3 as the sole stable phase in all samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) investigation of fractured surface of the samples showed that porosities decrease by increasing of sintering temperature and grow by further increasing of temperature.