Effect of gamma irradiation on the phase composition of ZrO2-based ceramic materials

Abstract

We have studied the effect of gamma irradiation on the phase composition and crystallite size of ZrO₂ samples containing 0, 2, and 3 mol % Y₂O₃ as a stabilizer and heat-treated at 800°C. The results demonstrate that gamma irradiation leads to amorphization of the material and reduces the amount of the monoclinic phase. Irradiation had the strongest effect on the phase composition (increasing the percentage of the tetragonal phase and reducing that of the monoclinic phase) and caused the largest decrease in crystallite size in the case of the yttria-free samples.