Dilatometric studies of Y2W3O12 with added Al2O3

Y2W3O12 exhibits negative thermal expansion along the three crystallographic directions due to the transverse thermal vibrations perpendicular to the Y–O–W linkage. It is highly hygroscopic and forms a trihydrate structure at room temperature. Dilatometric studies of Y2W3O12 show large thermal expansion hysteresis due to large grain size and a large initial positive thermal expansion due to the removal of water molecules. Al2O3 has been added to Y2W3O12 up to 10 wt% in an attempt to overcome the hygroscopicity and reduce the particle size and thereby the thermal expansion hysteresis. Thermo gravimetric, dilatometric and electron microscopic studies are presented to support these observations.