Comparative studies on properties of scandia-stabilized zirconia synthesized by the polymeric precursor and the polyacrylamide techniques

ZrO2:Sc2O3 powders were synthesized by the polyacrylamide and the polymeric precursor techniques. The powder particles had the state of agglomeration analyzed by laser scattering, the structural phases by X-ray diffraction, and the morphology by scanning electron microscopy. The polyacrylamide and the polymeric precursor techniques produced stable transparent gels and polymeric resins, respectively. Upon calcination the gels and the resins yielded high surface area powders, fully stabilized in the cubic fluorite structure. The crystalline phases, grain morphology and electrical behavior of sintered pellets using powders synthesized by both techniques were analyzed. The amount of organics in the precursors was found to be responsible for the state of agglomeration of the particles, producing pellets with different electrical behavior.