Infrared spectrum of several double oxides with corundum structure resulting from the transformation of lacunar γ phases with a spinel structure

When aluminum or chormium is substituted by Fe³⁺ ions in α-Fe₂O₃, all the ir bands gradually shift toward high frequencies. Alternatively, for the α phases of type (Fe₂Cr_4?yAl_y)O₉ the transition occurs sharply for a composition y close to 2. For α phases substituted by (Fe_6?yCr_y)O₉-type chromium a linear variation of frequency with chromium content is observed. From ir data it has been shown that, under given temperature and time conditions, an α phase less rich in chromium than the initial product could be obtained by oxidizing iron chromite. The ir spectrum of the oxidation of pure magnetites the size of which is between 1400 and 15000 Å evolves versus the latter to yield either the γ-Fe₂O₃ or the α-Fe₂O₃ phase which can be formed from γ-Fe₂O₃ or by direct oxidation of Fe₃O₄.