INFLUENCE OF THE BALL MILLING PROCESS AND AIR SINTERING CONDITIONS ON THE SYNTHESIS OF La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 CERAMICS

Conventional solid-state synthesis was used to produce mixed valence manganite La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO) from the mechanochemically activated mixture of the corresponding metal oxides. Prepared samples were characterized by XRD and SEM measurements. The results showed that it is possible to produce single phase LCMO perovskite after at least 2h of ball milling of the reaction mixture, followed by 1400 degrees C sintering of the dry-pressed sample pellets. The prolonged milling time as well as the higher sintering temperature leads to further stabilization of crystal structure.