Modelling of the grain growth and the densification of SnO2-based ceramics

This work consisted in the kinetic study of grain growth and densification processes for SnO2 and Sn0.94Zr0.06O2 ceramics between 1100 and 1200 °C. From dilatometric experiments, it appeared that zirconia additions inhibited the final densification rate. For pure SnO2, the rate limiting step of the densification mechanism would correspond to the grain boundary or volume diffusion. From normal grain growth kinetics, the corresponding limiting step has been identified, i.e. either the surface diffusion in pores or grain boundary diffusion for ZrO2 free-SnO2 and Sn0.94Zr0.06O2, respectively. All of these results permit establishing the corresponding sintering map. For pure SnO2 ceramic, the experimental data have been well restored by modelling.