title: Effect of starting powders on the sintering of nanostructured ZrO2ceramics by colloidal processing.
abstract: The effect of starting powders on the sintering of nanostructured tetragonal zirconia was evaluated. Suspensions were prepared with a concentration of 10 vol.% by mixing a bicomponent mixture of commercial powders (97 mol.% monoclinic zirconia with 3 mol.% yttria) and by dispersing commercially available tetragonal zirconia (3YTZ, Tosoh). The preparation of the slurry by bead-milling was optimized. Colloidal processing using 50 μm zirconia beads at 4000 rpm generated a fully deagglomerated suspension leading to the formation of high-density consolidated compacts (62% of the theoretical density (TD) for the bicomponent suspension). Optimum colloidal processing of the bicomponent suspension followed by the sintering of yttria and zirconia allowed us to obtain nanostructured tetragonal zirconia. Three different sintering techniques were investigated: normal sintering, two-step sintering and spark plasma sintering. The inhibition of grain growth in the bicomponent mixed powders in comparison with 3YTZ was demonstrated. The inhibition of the grain growth may have been caused by inter-diffusion of cations during the sintering.
authors.affiliation: Fine Particle Processing Group, Nano Ceramics Center, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan; Technological Center of Mineral Resources and Ceramics, CETMIC, Camino Centenario y 506, Gonnet, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.affiliation: Fine Particle Processing Group, Nano Ceramics Center, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan; WPI-MANA World Premier International Research Center Initiative, Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, NIMS, 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakka
authors.affiliation: Fine Particle Processing Group, Nano Ceramics Center, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Tohru S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Fine Particle Processing Group, Nano Ceramics Center, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchikoshi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13W8, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Xinwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Technological Center of Mineral Resources and Ceramics, CETMIC, Camino Centenario y 506, Gonnet, Argentina.
authors.forename: Esteban F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Aglietti
keywords: colloidal processing; nanostructured zirconia; spark plasma sintering (SPS); two-step sintering