The effect of yttrium on oxygen grain-boundary transport in polycrystalline alumina measured using Ni marker particles

The grain-boundary transport of oxygen in polycrystatline alpha-Al2O3 (undoped and 500 ppm Y3+-doped) was studied in the temperature regime of 1100 degrees-1500 degrees C by monitoring the oxidation of a fine, uniform dispersion of Ni marker particles (0.5 vol%). The annealing treatments were carried out in a high-purity 02 atmosphere (>99.5%). The Ni particles, which are visibly oxidized to nickel aluminate spinel, were used to determine the depth of oxygen penetration. The thickness of the reaction zone was measured as a function of heat-treatment time and temperature, and a comparison of the oxidation rate constants and activation energies for undoped and Y3+-doped alumina was made. The results indicate that the presence of Y3+ slows oxygen grain-boundary transport in alumina by a variable factor of from 15 to 3 in the temperature regime of 1100 degrees 1500 degrees C. The values of the activation energy for undoped and Y3+-doped alumina were determined to be 430 +/- 40 and 497 +/- 8 kJ/mol, respectively.