ISSN:
1432-2021
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Lattice parameters, and intensities of selected X-ray reflexions, have been measured as a function of temperature for natural leucite, to characterise the phase transformation behaviour. At low temperatures leucite has a large ferroelastic distortion, but the temperature evolution of lattice parameters cannot be explained in terms of a purely ferroelastic phase transition; in particular, the considerable change in volume with temperature implies an additional transition mechanism, which we correlate with off-centring of K-ions in the low-temperature phase, and a collapse of the 〈111〉 structural channels. The transition behavior can therefore be rationalised in terms of two competing mechanisms: (I) Ferroelastic (consistent with the change m3m→ 4/mmm); (II) Volume-changing (consistent with m3m → 4/m). Coupling of the two order parameters QI, and QII gives rise to the intermediate 4/mmm tetragonal phase. Our results confirm the existence of an I4 1/a→I4 1/acd transition, but the non-disappearance of the 200 reflexion at high temperatures implies that the expected transition from I41/acd to Ia3d (cubic) symmetry does not occur. We attribute this to a residual strain field conjugated to the order parameter, due to defects (with possible Al/Si order). Nevertheless, within our experimental resolution, the lattice becomes metrically cubic at 665° C.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00223322
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