Pure SnO2 sintering was studied by constant heating rate and isothermal sintering. The constant heating rate study showed no macroscopic shrinkage during the sintering process up to 1500 ºC. Pore size distribution measurements, using gas desorption, and grain size and crystallite size measurements of isothermally sintered samples showed no formation of non-densifying microstructures during the sintering process. These results are a strong indication that densification was prevented by thermodynamic factors, mainly the high ratio of gammaGB/gSV. An explanation, based on the nature of covalent bonding and the balance between attractive and repulsive forces, was proposed to explain the high gammaGB/gammaSV ratio in SnO2.
sintering; SnO2; microstructure
