Textural characterization of zirconia and yttria-doped zirconia powders

Abstract

Abstract Pure zirconia and yttria-doped zirconia powders were obtained by precipitation from zirconium and yttrium salt solutions and then treated at 723 K in air. The evolution of the texture and structure has been studied as a function of the treatment time of the powders. After 2 h of treatment, doped samples correspond to the cubic form and pure zirconia to the tetragonal form. With increase in the time of treatment, the transformation to phases with lower symmetry (cubic→tetragonal→monoclinic) occurs but it is delayed as the yttria content in the sample is increased. However, a degradation of the porous texture promoted by thermal treatment is observed in both pure and doped samples, and the textural stability is not improved by addition of yttria. The elimination of volatile species from the starting gels must be responsible for the differences observed in the textural evolution.