Constant Rate Thermal Analysis (CRTA) as a tool for the synthesis of materials with controlled texture and structure

Some examples of the use of the CRTA method for the synthesis of materials with controlled texture and structure are given. BaTiO3 has been obtained f rom the thermal decomposition of Barium Titanyl Oxalate (BTO) and Barium Ti tanyl Citrate (BTC) by controlling the reaction temperature in such a way t hat the partial pressure of the gases generated in the reaction was maintai ned constant at a value close to 10(-2) mbar. It has been shown that this m ethod allows getting BaTiO3 with crystal sizes considerably lower than thos e obtained by decomposing the same precursors by conventional methods. This small crystal sizes lead to the stabilisation of the metastable cubic phas e with regards to the tetragonal phase. It has been also shown that the control of the CO generated in the carbothe rmal reduction of silica allows tailoring the phase composition of the sili con nitride obtained as final product.