Discontinuous dissolution of a liquid phase accompanied by diffusion-induce
d grain-boundary migration (DIGM) in Ba(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O-3 (BNN) ceramics has b
een studied. When the liquid-phase-sintered BNN specimens are heat-treated
at low temperatures, the liquid phase formed during sintering is dissolved
discontinuously and during the reaction grain boundaries migrate. As the he
at-treatment temperature is lowered, the degree of grain boundary migration
and dissolution of the liquid phase increase. These results are qualitativ
ely consistent with the coherency strain energy model proposed for the driv
ing force for DIGM.