Polymorphic Forms and

Transformations
Modern Ceramics Engineering
Stable structure must comprise:-

Materials having the same chemical composition but different

Structure are polymorphs and the transformation is polymorphism.
Note: No large or abrupt vol. changes
occur.. Look the Thermal expansion
coefficient.

Abrupt vol. change

Ceramic materials: - SiO2, SiC, BN, ZnS, CaTiO3, TiO2, Al2SiO5, etc
Basically what happens???

Lattice distortion.Bond angle

changes
Bond angle broken.. New structure
forms.. Greater energy is required
Silica brick for high temp. app.
CaCo3 or CaO is added
Precipitate as Tridymite SiO2

Vol. 0.3%

Vol. >3%
Vol. 1.6% Vol. 0.8%

Stable Metastable Metastable

Why exist???
Non-Crystalline Structures
Glass
Modern Ceramics Engineering
Gels

Formed by the chemical reactions rather than melting.

e.g.
Ethyl silicate + water ------- Si (OH)4
Dehydrated to produce SiO2

Vapor Deposition
Molecular structures