Introduction of Stabilized Zirconia

Tantalum 02/19/2018

1. Phase of Zirconia(ZrO2)

Zirconia has three phase: monoclinic phase(m-ZrO2), tetragonal phase(t-ZrO2) and cubic phase(c-ZrO2). The phase can be changed under different temperature as below:

2. Density of Zirconia(ZrO2) in different phase

m-ZrO2: 5.65g/cm3
t-ZrO2: 6.1g/cm3
c-ZrO2: 6.27g/cm3

3. Why Zirconia need Stabilized?

During a heating or cooling process, zirconium oxide will undergo a phase transformation process. The change in volume associated with this transformation will lead a crack of zirconia, which makes the usage of pure zirconium oxide in many applications impossible. To overcome this kind of defect, some materials are added to maintain the zirconia phase. These materials called stabilizer and related product named Stabilized Zirconia.

4. Common Zirconia Stabilizer

Common used Zirconia Stabilizers include Y2O3, CeO2, CaO and MgO etc. The most common and effective stabilizer is Y2O3. The stabilized zirconia called Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia, Cerium-Stabilized Zirconia, Calcia-Stabilized Zirconia, Magnesia-Stabilized Zirconia accordingly.

5. Preparation of Stabilized Zirconia

ALB’s Stabilized Zirconia is prepared by chemical co-precipitated method.
Stabilized zirconia production flow chart:

6. Commercial available stabilized zirconia from ALB

Item No.	Description	Purity	Inquiry($, USD)
PSZ-5.5Y	Yttria (3 mol%) Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: ~ 15 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2: 94.5% wt; Y2O3: 5.2 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-5.5YS	Yttria (3 mol%) Stabilized Zirconia D50 < 1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: 7~9 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2: 94.5% wt; Y2O3: 5.2 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-8.5YS	Yttria (5 mol%) Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: 7~9 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2: 91.5% wt; Y2O3: 8.5 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-13.5Y	Yttria (8 mol%) Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: ~15 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2: 86% wt; Y2O3: 13.5 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-13.5YS	Yttria (8 mol%) Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: 7~9 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2: 86% wt; Y2O3: 13.5 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-3M	Magnesia Stabilized Zirconia D50= 0.5 - 1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area 7~9 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2 96% wt; MgO :3.5 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-4C	Calcia Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: 7~9 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2 95% wt; CaO :4.0 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-10Ce	Cerium Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: 7~9 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2 89.5% wt; CeO2 :10.0 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry
PSZ-20Ce	Cerium Stabilized Zirconia D50 = 0.5-1.0 µm; Specific Surface Area: >15 m2/g	Zr(Hf)O2: 79.5% wt; CeO2 :20.0 ± 0.2% wt	Inquiry

Nano Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia is also available:
Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Nanopowder, Nanoparticles, 50nm, 99.9 %, 3mol %
Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Nanopowder, Nanoparticles, 50nm, 99.9 %, 5mol %
Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Nanopowder, Nanoparticles, 50nm, 99.9 %, 8mol %
Specification of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia:

Item No.	PSZ-5.5Y	PSZ-5.5YS	PSZ-8.5YS	PSZ-13.5YS
Phase	3Y tetragonal	3Y tetragonal	5Y tetragonal	8Y cubic
Zr(Hf)O2 (wt %)	94.5	94.5±0.3	91.5	86
Y2O3 (wt %)	5.2±0.2	5.2±0.2	8.5±0.2	13.5±0.2
Al2O3 % ≤	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01
SiO2 %≤	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01
Fe2O3 %≤	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01
CaO %≤	0.005	0.005	0.006	0.005
MgO %≤	0.005	0.005	0.005	0.005
TiO2 %≤	0.002	0.002	0.002	0.002
Na2O %≤	0.005	0.004	0.005	0.005
Cl- %≤	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Loss on ignition %≤	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8
Specific surface area(m2/g)	~15	7-9	7-9	7-9
Average particle size (um)	0.5-1.0 um	<1.0 um	0.5-1.0 um	0.5-1.0 um

8. Application of Stabilized Zirconia

Stabilized zirconia is used as a grinding media and engineering ceramics due to its increased hardness and high thermal shock resistivity. Stabilized zirconia is also used in applications such as oxygen sensors and solid oxide fuel cells due to its high oxygen ion conductivity.

Link to this article: https://www.albmaterials.com/knowledge/introduction-of-stabilized-zirconia.html