2000

In the present work reactive powders, mixed to stainless steel ones, have been used to increase the density of sintered parts, through the generation of a liquid phase. High density is connected to porosity decrease and also to transformation from open to close pores: this increases also the corrosion behaviour and the mechanical properties.

Powders and pellets of new NASICON compositions have been synthesized using a mixed inorganic-organic sol-gel synthesis, by the preliminary formation of a pre-hydrolized TEOS xerogel. The investigated compositions can be described by the general formula Na3Zr2-(x/4)Si2-xP1+xO12, obtained by keeping the Na concentration constant (= 3) at the optimum value reported for ionic conductivity, with x = 0 (the usual NASICON composition), 0.667, and 1.333. The xerogels were calcined at various temperatures in the range 400-1200°C.

The sinterability of two industrial mullite powders, in the presence of MgO as a sintering aid, was investigated. A glassy phase, which was generated during preparation, was present in both powders; this glassy phase had a strong influence on sintering, depending on its content, composition, and spatial distribution. MgO promoted sintering in the presence of a liquid phase, both in the as-received materials and in samples washed with HF, in which most of the pre-existing glassy phase was eliminated.

A gas sensor based on a β-alumina thick film was recently developed on a laboratory scale. This sensor can be successfully used for selective detection of CO and NO x, resulting from an appropriate choice of the working temperature of the sensing element. This paper deals with the approach of the industrial transfer of the sensor prototype, mainly concerning the scale-up of the screen-printing procedure from a hand-operated apparatus to an industrial production machine.

Sol-gel processed NASICON-type with new compositions in the Na3Zr2-(x/4)Si2-xP1+xO12 system showed an improved sinterability with an increase in the x value. This is attributed to liquid phase sintering. This dense electrolyte system is suitable for the application as gas sensors. The CO2 gas sensors using highly dense x = 0.667 (sample B) and x = 1.333 (sample C) samples show a stable EMF response in dry atmosphere which is very close to the theoretical value.