COPRECIPITATION CONDITIONS AND COMPACTION BEHAVIOR OF Y-TZP NANOMETRIC POWDERS

The concentration of the starting ZrOCl2 + YCl3 solution influences the coprecipitated gel morphology. The gel prepared from the highly concentrated solution shows a loose microstructure. Its calcination results in a 3Y-TZP powder of relatively weak agglomerates. The latter collapse during uniaxial pressing under 200 MPa in contrast to 400 MPa pressure observed in the case of a powder derived from the gel coprecipitated from the diluted ZrOCl2 + YCl3 solution. Compacts of the powder composed of weak agglomerates attain higher densities during both cold pressing and sintering.