Analysis of the polymorphic transformation of nano- and microcrystalline zirconia doped with CaO and MgO during reaction-sintering process by neutron thermodiffraction. A thermodynamic approach

Polymorphic transformation of zirconia during reaction-sintering process in nano- and microcrystalline mixtures of monoclinic zirconia and dolomite was analyzed using neutron thermodiffraction experiments. This is being the first time that such an approach has been applied in the analysis of these materials. Taking into account the isoplethal section CaO·MgO–ZrO2, the composition, which allows doped CaO/MgO cubic zirconia to be obtained at the lowest temperature, was chosen to carry out the experimental studies.The comparison of the results in both samples, in terms of their thermodynamic and kinetic aspects makes it possible to analyze the effect of the particle-size on the reaction behavior and temperatures of phase transitions.