Evolved gas analysis during sintering of strontium titanate

Abstract

A combined dilatometer and mass spectrometer unit is used to examine the high temperature species that appear during the sintering of strontium titanate. Two regions of evolved gas are identified. In the temperature range from 400 to 900 degrees C, carbon dioxide and fragments related to its cracking are observed; these species are assigned to the decomposition of organic species and trace strontium carbonate. In the temperature range of 800-1400 degrees C, species are identified that can be assigned to the evolution of SO2, possibly arising from celestite used in the synthesis scheme. Species identification was achieved by using tabulated cracking patterns and natural isotopic abundancesby, by obtaining cracking patterns from a known gas (CO2) and by using model compounds (KHCO3, SrCO3 and SrSO4), which evolve the suspected species at elevated temperature.