Dilatometric studies of Y₂W₃O₁₂ with added Al₂O₃

Abstract

Y₂W₃O₁₂ exhibits negative thermal expansion along the three crystallographic directions due to the transverse thermal vibrations perpendicular to the Y-O-W linkage. It is highly hygroscopic and forms a trihydrate structure at room temperature. Dilatometric studies of Y₂W₃O₁₂ show large thermal expansion hysteresis due to large grain size and a large initial positive thermal expansion due to the removal of water molecules. Al₂O₃ has been added to Y₂W₃O₁₂ upto 10 wt% in an attempt to overcome the hygroscopicity and reduce the particle size and thereby the thermal expansion hysteresis. Thermo gravimetric, dilatometric and electron microscopic studies are presented to support these observations.