Synthesis and structure of Bi5FeTi3O15 ceramics

The aim of the present research was to fabricate and study crystal structure and phase composition of Bi5FeTi3O15 (BTFO) ceramics exhibiting Aurivillius - type structure. By means of simultaneous thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis the process of synthesis of BTFO ceramics has been studied. Mixed oxide method followed by pressureless sintering was used for ceramics preparation. Three endothermic thermal effects have been revealed on heating the stoichiometric mixture of initial powder oxides within the temperature range ΔT = 700-1200°C, while only one strong endothermic peak was found on heating the powder after calcination. The weak endothermic peaks were ascribed to the melting points of intermediate surface phases based on Bi2O3-rich phase formed at low temperature. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that BFTO ceramics consisted of Bi5FeTi3O15 and Bi4Ti3O12 phases in amount of 88.3% and 11.7% (weight fraction), respectively.