Sintering and characterisation of nano-sized yttria-stabilised zirconia
by M. Hasanuzzaman, A. Rafferty, A.G. Olabi, T. Prescott
International Journal of Nanoparticles (IJNP), Vol. 1, No. 1, 2008

Abstract: Two types of commercially available nano-sized, ZrO₂–3mol%Y₂O₃ (Y-Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals (TZP)) powders were investigated. BET surface area analysis showed the powders to be nano-sized as determined using Equivalent Spherical Diameter (ESD_BET) theory. Dilatometry analysis showed that one of the powders underwent complete shrinkage during isothermal sintering; the other did not. The point of maximum densification rate for the powders differed by approximately 100°C. A dramatic expansion associated with the tetragonal to monoclinic transformation was observed by dilatometry for unstabilised zirconia, but not for TZP samples. X-ray diffraction showed that the starting TZP powders contained some monoclinic zirconia, but confirmed that discs sintered from this powder were wholly tetragonal. For one powder type, the fracture toughness of discs decreased almost linearly with increasing sintering temperature, whereas for the other the fracture toughness was relatively stable across the temperature range. Two-step sintering enabled a maximum fracture toughness of 6.12 MPa m^1/2 to be achieved.

Online publication date: Fri, 21-Mar-2008

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Nanoparticles (IJNP):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com