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

The grain-boundary transport of oxygen in polycrystalline α-Al ₂O₃ (undoped and 500 ppm Y³⁺-doped) was studied in the temperature regime of 1100°-1500°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 O₂ 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°-1500°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.