Mg⁺² and Ce⁺³ doped α-SiAlON ceramics

In the present work, stabilization of MgO and CeO₂ in α-SiAlON structure is studied. Mg and CeO₂ were used in 50:50 molar ratios as additives. The mixture was sintered at 1830°C for 1 hour in gas pressure sintering furnace (GPS). The results show that sintered sample was composed of α-SiAlON and β-SiAlON phases. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray measurements (EDX) analyses, Mg and Ce cation could be incorporated into α-SiAlON structure higher than single R cation (R=Mg or Ce) doped compositions.