Rev.Adv.Mater.Sci. (RAMS)
No 4, Vol. 18, 2008, pages 344-348

SYNTHESIS OF La9.33(SiO4)6O2 APATITE-TYPE BY MECHANICAL ALLOYING

M.M. Vieira, J.C. Oliveira, A. Cavaleiro and B. Trindade

Abstract

In this work, powders of La2O3 and SiO2 were mechanically alloyed in a planetary ball mill with different rotation speeds (150-350 rpm) for maximum periods of time of 50 h and subsequently compacted at room temperature by cold isostatic pressure (CIP). Finally, the samples were sintering at temperatures up to 1300 °C in air.

The results showed that a higher rotation speed decreases the time required to the formation of the La9.33(SiO4)6O2 phase. Single phase powders of La9.33(SiO4)6O2 were obtained with 350 and 250 rpm after 15 and 50 h milling, respectively. No reaction between the La2O3 and SiO2 powders occurred with 150 rpm milling even during 50 h processing. For the milled samples with incomplete reaction the single La9.33(SiO4)6O2 phase is obtained at temperatures between 900 °C and 1300 °C, depending on the mechanical alloying parameters.

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