Effect of the Sb2O3 addition on the Bi2O3polymorphism

The object of this study was to obtain further understanding of the room-temperature phases present in the Bi2O3 - Sb2O3 system. The system (Bi2O3)(1-x) - (Sb2O3)(x) (for x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) was investigated using powder X-ray diffractometry in combination with differential thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The mixtures were examined in nonisothermal and isothermal conditions, in air. The phases identified in the quenched samples were correlated with the content in Sb2O3 and the applied annealing treatments. Small compositional changes produced different phases stabilized at room temperature. Further studies are currently underway to investigate this system and how this oxide system is affected by the presence of this additive.