Sintering of ZrO2 ‐ CeO2 Spherical Powders Prepared by a Water Extraction Variant of the Sol‐Gel Process

Abstract

Spherical powders (with diameters <100 μm) of zirconia‐ceria hydroxide gels (stabilized with nitrates or chlorides) were fabricated by a water extraction variant of the sol‐gel process. The resulting powders were calcined at 400, 600, and 800°C in order to obtain crystalline forms, subsequently pressed at various pressures, and then sintered for 8 h at 1700°C. The sintered pellets had relatively high geometric density (in some cases >95% of the theoretical density) and showed both tetragonal and/or cubic x‐ray phases. The bulk density values of these ceria‐doped zirconia sintered pellets are much higher than those obtained for the ‐ or zirconia samples prepared by the same process.