Sintering of ZnO doped SnO2

Dense SnO2 ceramics were obtained by doping with ZnO concentrations varies from 0.5 to 5.0 mel. The obtained powder was isostaticaly pressed to 210MPa in cylindrical shape and sintered from ambient to 1.500 degrees C using constant heating rate of 10 degrees C/min. Densities above 97% were obtained depending on the ZnO doping concentration. A maximum density was reached with the addition of 2 mol%. It can be concluded from shrinkage data and the observed microstructure obtained by SEM that the solid solution limit for ZnO in SnO2 is about 1.0 mol%. Above this concentration the formation of a second ceramic phase is observed.