Abstract
This paper examines the structural changes with temperature and composition in the Yb 2Si 2O 7–Y 2Si 2O 7 system; members of this system are expected to form in the intergranular region of Si 3N 4 and SiC structural ceramics when sintered with the aid of Yb 2O 3 and Y 2O 3 mixtures. A set of different compositions have been synthesised using the sol–gel method to obtain a xerogel, which has been calcined at temperatures between 1300 and 1650 °C during different times. Isotherms at 1300 and 1600 °C have been analysed in detail to evaluate the solid solubility of Yb 2Si 2O 7 in β-Y 2Si 2O 7 and γ-Y 2Si 2O 7. Although Yb 2Si 2O 7 shows a unique stable polymorph (β), Yb 3+ is able to replace Y 3+ in γ-Y 2Si 2O 7 and δ-Y 2Si 2O 7 at high temperatures and low Yb contents. IR results confirm the total solid solubility in the system and suggest a constant SiOSi angle of 180° in the Si 2O 7 unit across the system. The temperature–composition diagram of the system, obtained from powder XRD data, is dominated by the β- RE 2Si 2O 7 polymorph, with γ- RE 2Si 2O 7 and δ- RE 2Si 2O 7 showing reduced stability fields. The diagram is in accordance with Felsche's diagram if average ionic radii are assumed for the members of the solid solution at any temperature, as long as the β–γ phase boundary is slightly shifted towards higher radii.
Published Version
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