Microstructure andphase stability of Y- PSZ codopedwithMgO orCaO prepared via polymeric route

1400°C. The addition of 1 mol-% MgO or CaO as Whilst the fabrication ofhigh performance zirconia requires codopant has a signie cant ine uence on grain growth near full densie cation and high temperature processing, the characteristics. Addition of MgO tends to promote use of codopants enhances both the sintering characteristics densie cation during sintering and assists in the prep- and stability of zirconia at relatively low temperature.12 aration of nanosized material ( <200 nm grain size) The eVect of yttria as a codopant to Ce‐ PSZ on the with uniform microstructure. X -ray di Vraction investi- microstructure and stability of zirconia has been investigations of samples hot pressed at 35 MPa and 1400 °C gated by Duh et al.13 Addition of either yttria or magnesia for 20 min and thermally etched at 1350 °C for 3 h inhibits grain growth, improves sinterability, and enhances showed the presence of three zirconia phases, cubic, the phase stability. MgO was used as a codopant and tetragonal, and monoclinic. The existence of the cubic sintering aid to Ce‐ PSZ to obtain near full densie cation at phase with the two other phases is associated with a relatively low isostatic pressure and processing tempere ne crystallite structure. This desirable microstructure, ature.14 The addition of 3‐ 5 wt-%CaO and 1‐ 2 wt-%MgO combined with good stabilisation of the high temperas well as a mixture of CaO and MgO as codopants to ature phases, was recorded in nanostructured samples Y‐ PSZ improved the densie cation on e ring at 1450‐ codoped with 1 mol-% of either MgO or CaO. 1500°C.15 BCT/485 In practice innovation is still needed to synthesise high quality ultrae ne powders with controlled morphology,