Preparation and characterization of yttria-stabilized zirconia ultrafine powder by oxalate method in ethanol solution

Abstract

A new technique has been developed for the preparation of yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ) ultrafine powder. The powder was synthesized by coprecipitating yttrium and zirconium oxalates in ethanol solution followed by washing the precipitate with absolute ethanol, drying it under an infrared lamp, and calcining it at a temperature as low as 450°C. The effect of major process variables was studied on the characterizations of the resultant powder and an optimized procedure developed. With a very high yield the formation of YSZ powder by this technique could produce near- spheroidal, less-agglomerated and narrowly sized particles with an average particle size of around 0.4 μm. The characterizations of the YSZ powder were examined by means of X- ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope observation, the measurement of particle size distribution and specific surface area, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis.