Synthesis, formation and characterization of zirconium titanate (ZT) powders

摘要

Zirconium titanate (ZrTiO_4) powders have been prepared and characterised by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. The effect of calcination temperature, dwell time and heating/cooling rates on phase formation, morphology and particle size distribution of the powders are examined. The calcination temperature and dwell time have been found to have a pronounced effect on the phase formation and particle size of the calcined zirconium titanate (ZT) powders. It has been found that the minor phases of ZrO_2 and TiO_2 tend to form together with ZrTiO_4, depending on calcination conditions. Optimisation of calcination conditions can lead to a single-phase ZrTiO_4 in an orthorhombic phase.