PROPERTIES OF SNO2-BASED CERAMICS

Some SnO2-based ceramics of the ternary and binary systems SnO2-Sb2O3-CuO have been prepared and some of their properties have been measured. It was observed that most of their properties, which include density, porosity, d.c. electrical conductivity, as well as the crystal occurrence, were dependent on the presence of CuO. Crystal phase occurrence was investigated using the X-ray diffraction technique and it was found that the phases were predominantly SnO2 and Sb2O4 crystals. The d.c. conductivity at different sintering temperatures was found to be enhanced by the simultaneous presence of Sb2O3 and CuO.