PHASE-RELATIONS IN THE SYSTEM BAO-ND2O3-B2O3 (B2O3-GREATER-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-50 MOL-PERCENT) AND CRYSTAL-GROWTH OF NDBAB9O16

The phase relations at a temperature below ''sub-solidus'' in the syst em BaO-Nd2O3-B2O3 (greater-than-or-equal-to 50 mol%) are investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Four pseudobinary diagrams, BaB2O4-NdBO3, NdBO3-BaO.4B2O3, BaB2 O-4-NdBaB9O16 and NdB3O6-NdBaB9O16, have been drawn experimentally. Sp ecimens were prepared from various compositions of BaCO3, Nd2O3 and B2 O3, of purity 99.99%, 99.95% and 99.99%, respectively, and fired at 85 0-degrees-C. Under the present synthesizing conditions, only one terna ry compound, NdBaB9O16, was identified in this system. Powder diffract ion data of NdBaB9O16 are given. Crystal growth and optical properties of NdBaB9O16 are investigated.