Study of PSZ Sintered in Low Oxygen Partial Pressure

Thermomechanical and electrical properties of zirconia-based ceramics have led to a wide range of advanced and engineering ceramic applications like solid electrolyte in oxygen sensors, fuel cells and furnace elements and its low thermal conductivity has allowed its use for thermal barrier coatings for aerospace engine components. In this work, PSZ (partially stabilized zirconia) was studied to analyze the behavior during sintering in low oxygen partial pressure. Zirconia was partially stabilized with yttria 8 wt%. The sintering temperatures used were 1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900°C. The study of PSZ sintered in low oxygen partial pressure was done using Scanning Electron Microscope, X Ray Diffraction and density analysis. The values of samples density showed that the increasing in sintering temperature was favorable to the material densification. The monoclinic phase converted in tetragonal and cubic phases. The tetragonal phase maintains constant in all sintering temperatures, but the cubic phase increased at 1700 and 1800°C. The lattice parameters werecalculated and showed similar in all sintering temperature.