Yttrium Silicate Powders Produced by the Sol–Gel Method, Structural and Thermal Characterization

Yttrium silicate (Y ₂ SiO ₅ ) powders of high purity have been synthesized using the sol–gel method. Alkoxide precursors were used with commercial tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silica source and yttrium propoxide synthesized from YCl ₃ . Powders calcined from the xerogel showed submicrometer crystal sizes. These powders were sintered at temperatures <1300°C and are suitable for coating applications such as a thermal barrier system for SiC/SiC composites.