Phase Transformation Kinetics in the System Bismuth Oxide-Zirconia

The effect of ZrO₂ addition on the phase transformation of Bi₂O₃ was studied with powder X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. Samples containing higher than a few mole percent ZrO₂ were obtained as the metastable β phase (tetragonal) at room temperature when they were cooled at 20°C/min from 800°C where the δ phase (fcc) is stable. When the same samples were cooled at the same rate from 1000°C, which is above the solidus, they formed the stable α phase (monoclinic) at room temperature. Evidence for the relatively higher solubility of ZrO₂ in the α phase is discussed to explain this observation.