Applied and theoretical study of textural and structural evolution of pure and doped zircon powders

Using different preparation methods, undoped zircon constituted of quadratic and monoclinic phases, and quadratic phase zircon doped with lanthanum, magnesium or silicon were obtained and characterized. An applied kinetic study of the influence of the gaseous phase, and of the doping on pre-sintering shows an accelerating effect of water vapour, an important stabilization effect of lanthanum or silicon additions and a little effect of magnesium additions. This kinetic study leads to a model giving two parallel types of matter transport: one using water vapour catalytic effect, and the other oxygen diffusion