Synthesis and sintering of Ca0.5Sr0.sZr4P6024 powders by the decomposition/combustion of Ca-, Sr-, nitrate-ammonium dihydrogen phosphate-urea mixtures

Ca0.5Sro.5Zr4P6C>24 (CSZP) powders were prepared by the decomposition/combustion method using Ca(N03)2 • 4H20, Sr(N03)2? Zr0(N03)2 • xH20, NH4H2P04, urea, and NH4N03 as starting materials. The homogenized slurries of the mixture were heated at 500 °C for 5 min to obtain CSZP powders. The as-synthesized powders were amorphous and crystallized after heating 800 °C for 2 h. The specific surface area of the powder was varied with the batch weight of starting materials or the amount of urea and ammonium nitrate. Powders with high specific surface area (150 m2/g) could be produced by this method. The sinterability of the powders was comparable to that of sol-gel derived powders. The sintered density of the compacts was 99% of theoretical after firing in air at 1350 °C for 6 h.