Stabilization of zirconium dioxide in the ZrO2-CeO2-SrO system

In order to study stabilization of ZrO 2 in the ZbO 2 - CeO 2 - SrO system there were synthesized samples having various compositions along the tie lines with equal content of SrO 1%. The amount of stabilizing oxide- CeO 2 , was considered in the compositional range of 3 - 25 % by weight. The samples were fired in air at temperatures at 1550 °C and 1750 °C and in vacuum at 1610 °C, respectively. Phase composition and structure were determine using XRD analyses and transmission electronmicroscopy. It was found that tetragonal ZrO 2 is the major phase at 1750 °C, but some weak peaks in X-ray pattern, of monoclinic ZrO 2 were identified in the samples fired at lower temperature. It was observed that SrO not improves the densification process of samples fired in vacuum.