Influence of Residual Impurities on Phase Partitiioning and Grain Growth Processes of Y‐TZP Materials

Abstract

Microstructural evolution at 1450°C of two 3 mol% Y 2 O 3 ─ZrO 2 tetragonal polycrystals (Y‐TZP) containing different residual impurity amounts has been investigated by analytical and scanning electron microscopy in order to clarify the role of the amorphous intergranular phases. Phase partitioning is interpreted as a process based on dissolution/reprecipitation reactions involving mass transport via the liquid impurity phase. Grain growth is inhibited by yttria migration before the phase equilibrium is reached, then increases drastically.