Abstract:
The laser induced non-destructive photoacoustic technique has been employed
to measure the thermal diffusivity of lanthanum phosphate ceramics prepared
by the sol–gel route. The thermal diffusivity value was evaluated by knowing
the transition frequency between the thermally thin to thermally thick region
from the log–log plot of photoacoustic amplitude versus chopping frequency.
Analysis of the data was carried out on the basis of the one-dimensional model of Rosencwaig and Gersho. The present investigation reveals that the sintering temperature has great influence on the propagation of heat carriers and hence on the thermal diffusivity value. The results were interpreted in terms of variations in porosity with sintering temperature as well as with changes in grain size.
