Subsolidus Phase Equilibria and Ordering in the System ZrO2-Y2O3

The subsolidus phase relations in the entire system ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ were established using DTA, expansion measurements, and room- and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. Three eutectoid reactions were found in the system: ( a ) tetragonal zirconia solid solution→monoclinic zirconia solid solution+cubic zirconia solid solution at 4.5 mol% Y₂O₃ and ∼490°C, ( b ) cubic zirconia solid solutiow→δ-phase Y₄Zr₃O₁₂+hexagonalphase Y₆ZrO₁₁ at 45 mol% Y₂O₃ and ∼1325°±25°C, and ( c ) yttria C -type solid solution→wcubic zirconia solid solution+ hexagonal phase Y₆ZrO₁₁ at ∼72 mol% Y₂O₃ and 1650°±50°C. Two ordered phases were also found in the system, one at 40 mol% Y₂O₃ with ideal formula Y₄Zr₃O₁₂, and another, a new hexagonal phase, at 75 mol% Y₂O₃ with formula Y₆ZrO₁₁. They decompose at 1375° and >1750°C into cubic zirconia solid solution and yttria C -type solid solution, respectively. The extent of the cubic zirconia and yttria C -type solid solution fields was also redetermined. By incorporating the known tetragonal-cubic zirconia transition temperature and the liquidus temperatures in the system, a new tentative phase diagram is given for the system ZrO₂-Y₂O₃.     

Crystallographic Analysis of the Cubic-to-Tetragonal Phase Transformation in the ZrO2-Y2O3 System

The crystallography of diffusion-induced and diffusionless cubic-to-tetragonal phase transformations in the ZrO₂-Y₂O₃ system is examined on the basis of the phenomenological crystallographic theory by adopting the lsqb;011rsqb; (0 1 1) twinning system as the lattice invariant deformation system. Numerical calculation indicates that the principal axes of the cubic phase are not exactly parallel to those of the tetragonal phase and that the habit plane orientation is sensitive to the lattice parameters of the cubic and tetragonal phases. The calculated results are compared with the observed crystallography of the tetragonal precipitates formed by diffusion and of the metastable tetragonal phase formed in a diffusionless manner. In many aspects, the present results were in good agreement with experimental observations. In particular, the crystallography and morphology of the so-called "herringbone" structure are very well explained by the present analysis.     

Phase Equilibration in ZrO2-Y2O3 Alloys by Liquid-Film Migration

The tetragonal ( t ) and cubic ( c ) ZrO₂ solid solutions in two-phase ZrO₂-8 wt% Y₂O₃ ceramics have low and high solute content, respectively. Annealing samples sintered at 1600°C between 700° and 1400°C requires a change in the volume fraction of the coexisting phases, as well as their equilibrium Y₂O₃ content. The enrichment in Y₂O₃ content of the c -ZrO₂ grains is accomplished by liquid-film migration involving the ubiquitous silicate grain-boundary phase, while the volume fraction of t -ZrO₂ increases by the nucleation and growth of cap-shaped t -ZrO₂ lenses. The interfaces between the c -ZrO₂ matrix and the growing t -ZrO₂ lenses are semicoherent.     

Transformation-Toughened ZrO2: Correlations between Grain Size Control and Composition in the System ZrO2-Y2O3

The average grain size of ZrO₂(+Y, o,) materials sintered at 1400°C was observed to depend significantly on the Y₂O₃ content. The average grain size decreased by a factor of 4 to 5 for Y₂O₃ contents between 0.8 and 1.4 mol% and increased at Y₂O₃ contents of 6.6 mol%. Grain growth control by a second phase is the concept used to interpret these data; compositions with a small grain size lie within the two-phase tetragonal + cubic phase field, and the size of the tetragonal grains is believed to be controlled by the cubic grains. This interpretation suggests that the Y₂O₃-rich boundary of the two-phase field lies between 0.8 and 1.4 mol% Y₂O₃. Transformation toughened materials fabricated in this binary system must have a composition that lies within the two-phase field to obtain the small grain size required, in part, to retain the tetragonal toughening agent.     

Mechanical properties of toughened ZrO2-Y2O3 Ceramics

Tetragonal zirconia polycrystals were produced from high-purity powders containing 1.5 to 5.0 mol% Y₂O₃ by cold isostatic pressing and sintering, hot-pressing, and hot isostatic pressing. The mechanical properties and microstructures of these resulting materials were examined, with emphasis on the relation between strength and fracture toughness.     

Phase Equilibria in the System MgO-B2O3

Phase equilibria in the system MgO-B₂O₃ were investigated using DTA and quenching techniques. The system contains 4 invariant points. The compounds MgO·2B₂O₃ and 2MgO·B₂O₃ melt incongruently at 995° and 1312°C, respectively, whereas 3MgO·B₂O₃ melts congruently at 1410°C. A eutectic occurs at 1333°C and 71% MgO.     

Phase Equilibria in the System CaO-Yb2O3

Phase equilibrium relations in the system CaO-Yb₂O₃ were studied. Results of this work demonstrated the existence of four crystalline phases: Yb₂O₃.3CaO, Yb₂O₃.2CaO, Yb₂O₃°CaO, and 2Yb₂O₃°CaO. The 2Yb₂O₃°CaO phase is metastable at all temperatures and was obtained only by rapid quenching from the melt. The crystalline solubility limit of Yb_aO₃ in CaO at 1850°C is slightly greater than 8 mole %, whereas no solubility of CaO in Yb₂O₃ was detected. All four compounds have subsolidus minimums of stability and dissociate into the component oxides below 1800°C. Data are also presented for the systems CaO-Gd₂O₃ and CaO-La₂O₃.     

Phase Equilibria and Ionic Conductivity in the System ZrO2−Yb2O3−Y2O3

The phase equilibria in the zirconia-rich part of the system ZrO₂−Yb₂O₃−Y₂O₃ were determined at 1200°, 1400°, and 1650°C. The stabilizing effects of Yb₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ were found to be quite similar with <10 mol% of either being necessary to fully stabilize the cubic fluorite-structure phase at 1200°C. The two binary ordered phases, Zr₃Yb₄O₁₂ and Zr₃Y₄O₁₂, are completely miscible at 1200°C. These were the only binary or ternary phases detected. The ionic conductivities of ternary specimens in this system were measured using the complex impedance analysis technique. For a given level of total dopant, the substitution of Yb₂O₃ for Y₂O₃ gives only minor increases in specimen conductivity.     

Phase Equilibria in the Ga2O3In2O3 System

Subsolidus phase relationships in the Ga₂O₃–In₂O₃ system were studied by X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) for the temperature range of 800°–1400°C. The solubility limit of In₂O₃ in the β-gallia structure decreases with increasing temperature from 44.1 ± 0.5 mol% at 1000°C to 41.4 ± 0.5 mol% at 1400°C. The solubility limit of Ga₂O₃ in cubic In₂O₃ increases with temperature from 4.X ± 0.5 mol% at 1000°C to 10.0 ± 0.5 mol% at 1400°C. The previously reported transparent conducting oxide phase in the Ga-In-O system cannot be GaInO₃, which is not stable, but is likely the In-doped β-Ga₂O₃ solid solution.     

Phase Relationships in the ZrO2-Sc2O3 and ZrO2-In2O3 Systems

Zirconia-rich subsolidus phase relationships in the ZrO₂–Sc₂O₃ and ZrO₂–In₂O₃ systems were investigated. Phase inconsistencies in the ZrO₂–Sc₂O₃ system resulted from a diffusionless cubic-to-tetragonal ( t' ) phase transformation not being recognized in the past. Through three different measuring techniques, along with microstructural observations, the solubility limits of the tetragonal and cubic phases were determined.     

Room-Temperature Strength and Fracture of ZrO2-Y2O3 Single Crystals

Strength and fracture toughness results are presented for ZrO₂ single crystals stabilized with Y₂O₃. The crystals (2 cm in diameter by 5 cm long) were prepared by skull melting. The partially stabilized compositions with 4 to 6 wt% Y₂O₃ showed a dramatic improvement in mechanical properties over the fully stabilized samples containing 20 wt% Y₂O₃, i.e. a strength exceeding 1000 MPa and a fracture toughness of 8 Mpa,.m ^1/2 were achieved compared to 200 MPa and 2 Mpa.m^1/2, respectively, for fully stabilized ZrO₂ single crystals.     

Phase Equilibria in the System Nd2O3-P2O5

The phase diagram for the system NdI₂O₃-P₂O₅ was constructed. Six intermediate compounds, having molar Nd₂O₃: P₂O₅ ratios of 3:1, 7:3, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:5, were identified. The 3:1, 7:3, and 1:1 compounds are stable to at least 1500°C. The 1:2 compound decomposes to 1:1 and 1:3 at 730 ± 5°C. The 1:3 and 1:5 compounds melt congruently at 1280 ± 5° and 1055 ± 5°C, respectively. None of the neodymium phosphates show lower temperature limits of stability.     

Phase Equilibria in the System La2O3-P2O5

Subsolidus phase equilibria in the system La₂O₃-P₂O₅ were established. The system contains six intermediate compounds having molar La₂O₃:P₂O₅ ratios of 3:1,7:3,1:1,1:2,1:3, and 1:5. It was found that the 3:1 compound has a phase transformation at 935°C. The 1:2 compound decomposes to a mixture of 1:1 and 1:3 at 755°C. The 1:3 compound melts incongruently to 1:1 and liquid at 1235°C and the 1:5 compound melts congruently at 1095°C. None of the lanthanum phosphates have lower temperature limits of stability.     

Subsolidus Equilibria in the System ZrO2-WO3-P2O5

The existence of stable and metastable forms of 2ZrO₂·P₂O₅ and the subsolidus phase relations in the system ZrO₂-ZrP₂O₇ were confirmed before investigation of the ternary system. The synthesis and thermal behavior of ZrW₂O₈ were reinvestigated, and the system WO₃-P₂O₅ was examined cursorily. A ternary compound, 2ZrO₂·WO₃·P₂O₅, was found, and compatibility triangles for the system between 1105° and 1150°C were established. The ternary compound is compatible with ZrO₂, WO₃, and three binary compounds, giving rise to five composition triangles. In addition, ZrP₂O₇, WO₃, and "W₂O₃(PO₄)₂" were compatible.     

Phase Equilibria in the System SrO-CdO-V2O5

Phase equilibria in the system SrO-CdO-V₂O₅ in air were established from data obtained by DTA, quenching, and high-temperature solid-state reaction experiments. The SrO-V₂O₅ boundary system contains 4 compounds at SrO to V₂O₅ molar ratios of 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1. A fifth compound with a molar composition of ∼10:3 with the apatite crystal structure was also found; it may, however, be a hydroxyapatite phase. The CdO-V₂O₅ system contains the compounds 3CdO·V₂O₅, 2CdO·V₂O₅, and CdO·V₂O₅. The latter compound exhibits a rapid reversible polymorphic transition at 180°C. Complete solid solubility exists in the SrO-CdO system. The most probable compatibility relations were determined from the data available for the SrO-CdO-V₂O₅ ternary system. Limited solid solubility exists between SrO·V₂O₅ and CdO·V₂O₅, and the high-temperature CdO·V₂O₅ polymorph is stabilized to room temperature by solid solution of SrO·V₂O₅. Evidence for the existence of 2 ternary compounds with limited local solid solubility is also presented.     

Subsolidus Phase Equilibria in the System SrO-B2O3-SiO2

The subsolidus compatibility relations in the system SrO-B₂O₃- SiO₂ were determined by solid-state reaction techniques and X-ray powder diffraction methods. The system was found to contain 11 subsolidus compatibility relations, one stable ternary compound (Sr₃B₂SiO₈), and one metastable ternary compound with a probable composition SrB₂Si₂O₈.     

The System HfO2-Y2O3-Er2O3

A mathematical model of the liquidus surface based on a reduced polynomial method was proposed for the system HfO₂-Y₂O₃-Er₂O₃. The results of calculations according to this model agree fairly well with the experimental data. Phase equilibria in the system HfO₂-Y₂O₃-Er₂O₃ were studied on melted (as-cast) and annealed samples using X-ray diffraction (at room and high temperatures) and micro-structural and petrographic analyses. The crystallization paths in the system HfO₂-Y₂O₃-Er₂O₃ were established. The system HfO₂-Y₂O₃-Er₂O₃ is characterized by the formation of extended solid solutions based on the fluorite-type (F) form of HfO₂ and cubic (C) and hexagonal (H) forms of Y₂O₃ and Er₂O₃. The boundary curves of these solid solutions have the minima at 2370°C (15. 5 mol% HfO₂, 49. 5 mol% Y₂O₃) and 2360°C (10. 5 mol% HfO₂, 45. 5 mol% Y₂O₃). No compounds were found to exist in the system investigated.