The dielectric properties of zirconia

The dielectric properties of a series of single-crystal and sintered polycrystalline zirconias have been measured at room temperature over the frequency range 1–12.5 kHz. The additive cations investigated were yttrium, magnesium, calcium and cerium. For monoclinic zirconia, it was found that the permittivity, , was 23 at 10 kHz, in agreement with previous work. The addition of stabilizing cations causes a substantial increase in which then lies in the range 32–42 depending on the nature and amount of the stabilizing cation. Analysis of the separate contributions to the overall permittivity arising from the monoclinic, tetragonal or cubic phases has been made for some mixed-phase systems. The results suggest that the permittivity is principally determined by the crystallographic form rather than by the nature or amount of the added cation.