Preparation of yttrium compounds by precipitation with the decomposition products of urea

Yttrium oxy carbonates and Yttria, for ceramic applications, have been prepared by drying and calcination of compounds that have been obtained by the reaction of yttrium chloride solutions and the decomposition products of urea. The powders have been characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffractions, scanning electron microscopy, analysis of carbon content and granulometric distribution. It has been verified that the process employed allows the preparation of powders in which the particles have spherical morphology and a mean size in the range of 1 and 2 μm. (author)