Precursor Powders for Sulfide Ceramics Prepared by Evaporative Decomposition of Solutions

Precursor oxide powders for the synthesis of ternary sulfide ceramics can be prepared by the evaporative decomposition of nitrate solutions. The oxides can be sulfidized inflowing H,S at 1000 C with little grain growth. Ceramics prepared by direct sintering of these powders in flowing H0S have a much lower porosity than ceramics prepared from conventionally fired powders and sintered under identical conditions. Particle sizes are in the micrometer size range, in agreement with calculation .