INTERPRETATION OF RESISTIVITY TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF HIGH PURITY (ZRO2)0.90(Y2O3)0.10

The resistivity of a very stable high purity specimen of (ZrO2)0.90(Y2O3)0.10 has been measured between 400° and 1000°C. It is found that the dependence of the resistivity ρ{variant} on temperature is precisely described by ρ{variant} T=A1e E1 kT + A2e E2 kT where the A's and E's are empirically determined constants. Two hypotheses which yield such a temperature dependence are discussed. The first involves vacancy trapping by the yttria ions. The second involves the resistance of an yttria-rich layer near the grain boundaries. © 1969.