Writers: Mario J. Godinho; Caue Ribeiro; Rosana F. Gonçalves; Elson Longo; Edson R. Leite
Keywords: Sintering; Nanocrystalline materials; Powder consolidation; Sol–gel; Fuel cell materials
Abstract: An investigation on the sinterization of Gd:CeO2 (Ce0.85Gd0.15O1.9−δ ceramic system) 3–10 nm nanoparticles in pressed bodies was done. The heating rate was taken as a key parameter and two competing sinterization processes were identified, associated with different diffusional mechanisms. Using heating rates of 113 °C min−1, a high-final density (98 % of the theoretical) was obtained by superposing the two aforementioned mechanisms, resulting in a homogeneous microstructure at lower temperatures.
