Abstract

The phase stability of tetragonal phase in Y-TZP was investigated in terms of the distribution of grain sizes and heat-treating atmosphere. Y-TZP with various grain sizes were prepared using duration time at 1600°C as experimental parameter. Accumulated grain size distributions were built from the SEM micrographs and the amount of tetragonal phase were measured using XRD. Both results were compared to determine the critical grain size before and after heat-treatment in vacuum. The critical grain size drastically decreased compared with the small increase of average grain size due to the autocatalytic effect which critically affects the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation. After heat-treatment in reductive atmosphere critical grain size relatively increased due to the stabilization of tetragonal phase. The formation of oxygen vacancies during heat-treatment was ascribed to the increase of stability.

• Keywords: Tetragonal phase;Critical grain size;Autocatalytic effect;Reductive atmosphere;