Stabilization of Cubic Zirconia by Aluminum Nitride

Cubic ZrO₂ is stabilized at room temperature by the addition of AIN. The percentage of c-ZrO₂ in the mixture of c-ZrO₂ and m-ZrO₂ increases linearly with the addition of up to 20 mol% AIN and decreases thereafter. Stabilization becomes complete at 50 mol% AIN. The lattice spacing of the cubic phase gradually expands up to 20 mol% AIN. A displacement reaction ZrO₂+ AIN → ZrN+Al₂O₃ occurs above 20 mol% AIN and is completed at 50 mol% AIN.