Fabrication, phase formation and microstructure of Ni<inf>4</inf>Nb<inf>2</inf>O<inf>9</inf> ceramics fabricated by using the two-stage sintering technique

• Main Authors: Khamman O., Jainumpone J., Watcharapasorn A., Ananta S.
• Format: Journal
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84982278710&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/41665
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

© 2016, The Korean Physical Society. The potential utilization of two-stage sintering for the production of very dense and pure nickel diniobate (Ni 4 Nb 2 O 9 ) ceramics with low firing temperature was demonstrated. The effects of the designed sintering conditions on the phase formation, densification and microstructure of the ceramics were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Archimedes method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The minor phase of columbite NiNb 2 O 6 tended to form together with the desired Ni 4 Nb 2 O 9 phase, depending on the sintering conditions. Optimization of the sintering conditions may lead to a single-phase Ni 4 Nb 2 O 9 ceramics with an orthorhombic structure. The ceramics doubly sintered at 950/1250 ◦C for 4 h exhibited a maximum density of ~92%. Microstructures with denser angular grain-packing were generally found in the sintered Ni 4 Nb 2 O 9 ceramics. However, the grains were irregular in shape when the samples were sintered at 1050/1250 ◦C. Two-stage sintering was also found to enhance the ferroelectric behavior of the Ni 4 Nb 2 O 9 ceramic.