Densification kinetics of ZrO2-based ceramics using a master sintering curve

With the aim to know the densification kinetics of ZrO2-based ceramics a master sintering curve for ZrO2 containing 3 mol% Y2O3 was constructed. Zirconia (3 mol% Y2O3) powders were prepared by a chemical method and then they were uniaxially pressed at 200 MPa. A green density 36% of theoretical density was obtained after pressing. The shrinkage-temperature curves were obtained by dilatometric runs at different constant heating rates: 5 °C/min and 10 °C/min up to 1500 °C. Dilatometric data were used to construct the master sintering curve (MSC) with an energy of sintering Q = 500 kJ/mol between 600 and 1100 °C. The results of this study can be used to predict the shrinkage/densification level of ZrO2 powders, and by this way to design a heat treatment to obtain a bulk ceramic with a predetermined density.