Influences of powder preparation routes on the sintering behaviour of doped ZrO2-3 mol%Y2O3

The structural evolution and properties of ZrO2-3 mol%Y2O3 doped with 2 mol%Al2O3-1 mol%MnO-1 mol%CoO-1 mol%SiO2 were investigated. Three powder preparation routes with different degrees of distribution uniformity of the dopants in the zirconia powder were compared. With increasing distribution uniformity of the dopants in the zirconia powder, the relative dimension of the as-polished defects (pores and pull-out voids) decreased, while the concentration of the monoclinic phase increased as a result of enhanced dissolution of yttria into the intergranular glass phase. Optimized properties had been achieved when the powder having an intermediate degree of distribution uniformity of the dopants in the zirconia powder was utilized by precipitating the ions of the dopants on to the zirconia powder surface. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited and Techna S.r.l.