Effect of small amounts of additives on the sintering of high-purity Y-TZP

Superfine Y-TZP powders of high purity were prepared by using clean-room facilities. The effects of several kinds of minute or small amounts of additives on the densification and microstructural development of the Y-TZP powder were investigated. It was found that ≤ 1 wt% ferric or calcium oxides did not affect the densification of the Y-TZP powder compacts, while the addition of sodium oxides retarded the densification and that of copper oxide accelerated it, and these effects are most obvious at an additive level of 1 wt%. The retardation of the densification by sodium oxide was found to result from the agglomeration effect of the powder, and the formation of the eutectic liquid phase between zirconia and copper oxides promoted the densification and grain growth during sintering of copper oxide-doped powder. In addition, sodium and copper oxides both destabilize the tetragonal Y-TZP and lead to the formation of monoclinic phase.