stabilizing Zirconia

mah65

It is well known that Zirconia can be stabilized using Y2O3 or Sc2O3. However, stabilization is very dependent on the method of stabilizing; for example, coperecipitation, Sol-Gel, Solid State methods can provide different degrees of stabilization.

Does anyone know what the reasons for these discrepancies is?

Astronuc

Well, there are different forms of zirconia: cubic, tetragonal and monoclinic. The dopants would have different influence depending on the form and fabrication method.

See - http://accuratus.com/zirc.html

Partially Stabilized Zirconia – Toughening Mechanisms, Properties and Applications of PSZ
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4790

Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Bulk Ceramic Fibres ( ZrO2 ) Type ZYBF from Zircar Zirconia
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3095

Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Fiber - Ceramic Fiber Products for Use in Corrosive Environments from Zir
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3086

uby

don't confuse stabilized with toughened. stabilized indicates that the high-temperature cubic phase has been made metastable at low and intermediate temperatures by the addition of an aliovalent dopant in solid solution. toughened refers to the microstructure, usually with non-equiaxed grains.