Yttrium-Stabilized Zirconia Particles Prepared Using Electro-dialysis of (Zr,Y)OCl2Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Hydrous zirconia particles were prepared from ZrOCl₂ aqueous solution using an electro-dialysis [ED] process. For the preparation of (Zr,Y)(OH)₄ precipitates, 3 mol% YCl₃ was added into ZrOCl₂ aqueous solution. During the hydrolysis of 0.5 mol/L(Zr,Y)OCl₂ solution at 90℃ a slurry solution was obtained. The ED process was used for the removal of chlorine from the slurry solution. Two kinds of slurry solution were sampled at the beginning and end of the ED process. The morphology of hydrous zirconia particles in the solution was observed using an inverted optical microscope and an FE-SEM. The hydrous zirconia particles were nano-crystalline, and easily coagulated with drying. Yttrium stabilized zirconia [YSZ] powder could be obtained by the calcination of (Zr,Y)(OH)₄ precipitates prepared from a (Zr,Y)OCl₂ solution by the ED process. The coagulated dry powders were shaped and sintered at 1500℃ for 2 h. The sintered body showed a dense microstructure with uniform grain morphology.