Abstract
The optimum conditons were experimentally established for the powder synthesis and sintering of the feed-rods for $LiNbO_3$ crystal growth by a floating zone method. At the lower synthesis temperatures(700, $ 800^{\circ}C$) the minor amounts of $Li_2CO_3$ and $Nb_2O_5$ were present in the synthesized $LiNbO_3$ powder and at the higher temperature the particle size increased which is not favorable for the sintering process for the feed-rods. $LiNbO_3$ powder synthesized at $950^{\circ}C$ for 12 hours was found to be the best because it contains only the$LiNbO_3$ phase with the small particle size and uniform particle size distribution. As the sintering temperature and the soaking time increase, the sintered feed-rods exhibited the higher sintered density and grain growth phenomena. The $LiNbO_3$ feed rods sintering at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours were found to have the best microstructure for the precursor feed-rods of the floating zone crystal growth because of their higher density, small grain size and uniform particle size distribution. As the sintering temperature and the soaking time increase, the sintered feed-rods exhibited the higher sintered density and grain growth phenomena. The $LiNbO_3$ feed rods sintering at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours were found to have the best microstructure for the precursor feed-rods of the floating zone crystal growth because of their density, small grain size and uniform grain size distribution.
Floating zone법으로 $LiNbO_3$ 단결정올 육성하는데 있어서 원료분말 합성과 원료봉 소결 과정의 최척의 조건을 설험적으로 조사하였다. 원료분말 합성사 낮은 고상반응 온도(700, $800^{\circ}C$)에서는 미량의 $Li_2CO_3$와 $Nb_2O_5$가 미반응상태로 남아있고, 고상반응 온도가 높을 때 ($1000^{\circ}C$)에는 입자성장이 일어나 후속공정인 원료봉 소결에 악영향을 미침이 확인되었다. $950^{\circ}C$에서 12시간 고상반응시킨 원료분말이 $LiNbO_3$의 결정상을 가지면서 미세한 결정립 크기와 균일한 크기분포를 보여 $950^{\circ}C$, 12시간이 최적의 원료분말 합성조건이었다. 원료봉 소결시 소 결온도가 높아질수록, 또 소결시간이 늘어날수록 치밀도가 증가하고 업자성장 양상이 급격히 증가함을 알 수 었었다. $1100^{\circ}C$에서 2시간 동안 소결한 원료봉이 치밀하고, 작은 결정립 크기 와 균얼한 크기분포를 나타내어 floating zone법에 의한 $LiNbO_3$ 단결정성장에 가장 적합한 최적 의 소결 조건은 $1100^{\circ}C$, 2시간엄이 확인되었다.
