Results on dense ZrO2: 3 mol% Y2O3 (Y-TZP) and 12 mol% CeO2 (Ce-TZP) ceramics are shown in this second part. Sintered specimens were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and impedance spectroscopy. The main results show that both types of solid solutions may attain a high densification (> 95% of the theoretical density) for sintering temperatures lower than 0.45 T F (T F = melting temperature). The rate of grain growth is governed by the stabilizing cation and is faster for Ce-TZP than for Y-TZP. Raman spectra exhibit the six characteristic bands of the tetragonal phase for both specimens. Impedance spectroscopy results for Y-TZP do not differ from those obtained for nanophase ceramics. A reduction in the extrinsic conductivity due to the high purity of the crystallized precursor was observed for Ce-TZP specimens.
Y-TZP; Ce-TZP; scanning electron microscopy; Raman spectroscopy; impedance spectroscopy
