Influence of cryochemical and ultrasonic processing on the texture and thermal decomposition of xerogels and properties of nanoceramics in the ZrO2〈Y2O3〉–Al2O3 system

Abstract

We have studied the influence of cryochemical and ultrasonic processing on the formation, structure, particle size, and thermal decomposition of xerogels in the ZrO₂〈Y₂O₃〉–Al₂O₃ (20 wt %) system. Nanopowders of tetragonal-zirconia-based solid solutions with a high degree of tetragonality (c/a = 1.4366) have been synthesized. Al₂O₃ has been shown to slow down t-ZrO₂ crystallite growth in the temperature range 600–1400°C. We have optimized nanopowder consolidation conditions, obtained nanoceramics stable to low-temperature “aging” in a humid medium, and investigated their physicochemical and mechanical properties.