Non-equilibrium phase synthesis in Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃ by spray pyrolysis of nitrate precursors

Abstract

The phase evolution in the Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃ system has been studied for 4, 10, 15 and 37.5% Y₂O₃ amorphous powders prepared by spray pyrolysis of nitrate precursor solutions. Two distinct metastable transformation sequences were identified for the amorphous powders upon heat treatment. Crystallisation accompanied by partitioning leads to a mixture of hexagonal YAlO₃ and γ-Al₂O₃ (spinel structure). Partitionless crystallisation, on the other hand, leads directly to a γ-Al₂O₃ solid solution in dilute alloys, and garnet at temperatures as low as 800°C in the stoichiometric composition provided segregation is avoided during decomposition. Further heat treatment of a yttria-supersaturated γ-Al₂O₃ leads to the precipitation of the orthorhombic YAlO₃ that is stable up to temperatures as high as 1600°C, while hexagonal YAlO₃ converts to garnet, Y₃Al₅O₁₂. A rationalisation of the phase evolution sequence has been attempted on the basis of kinetic considerations, cation coordination and semi-quantitative free energy-composition curves for the various competing phases.