Tin oxide-based ceramics of high density obtained by pressureless sintering

Dense tin oxide-based ceramic semiconductors have a high potential as electrodes for aluminum production, glass industry, sputtering targets for transparent conducting thin films, varistors, and thermoelectrics due to their specific electrical properties, high corrosion resistance and ability to withstand high temperatures. The application of these ceramics is still limited because of the necessity to reach density of 99% of TD or greater and high electrical conductivity, and because of the manufacturing difficulties to produce components of different shapes and sizes with low cost. The paper reviews the results of the works conducted towards obtaining tin oxide-based ceramics with density up to 99.5+% of TD through low-temperature pressureless sintering. The selected sintering aids/dopants and firing conditions promoted both liquid phase sintering and electrical conductivity. The uniform microcrystalline structure is obtained.