Abstract
The sintering of MgO with ZrP2O7 additions in the concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0mol% was studied in the presence of the liquid phase at increasing temperatures (room temperature to 1450°C) and at a constant temperature (1450°C, 5h). The densification of the MgO compact was inhibited above 1300°C by the addition of 1.0mol% or less of ZrP2O7, whereas it was promoted by 3.0mol% ZrP2O7 addition. The difference in the densification behavior was considered to be due to variations in the amount of the liquid phase present in the MgO-Mg3(PO4)2 system above 1300°C: an amount of the liquid phase sufficient to spread over the grains promoted the densification of the MgO compact through accelerating the rearrangement of the grains and through eliminating the open pores.
