Importance of soft solution processing for advanced BaZrO3 materials

Barium zirconate is an interesting material for refractory applications as well as a good substrate for the manufacturing of high temperature superconductors. However, its solid state synthesis requires high temperature and provides inhomogeneous powder with a broad particle size distribution. In order to avoid these disadvantages, soft solution routes are of growing importance in the ceramic powder synthesis. Precipitation. decomposition of precursors, combustion techniques offer alternative ways to the solid state method. Advantages of these are a lower calcination temperature, production of homogeneous and fine monodisperse powders. The obtained powders have been characterised by XRD, IR, SEM and DTA/TG analysis. The influence of the synthesis conditions on the properties of BaZrO3 has been studied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.