Comparative analysis of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and titania doped YSZ (YZT) sintered by two different routes: Conventional and microwave processing

Abstract

Besides YSZ (yttria stabilized zirconia) as an appropriate anode material, YZT (titania doped YSZ) is emerging as a material of interest. The undoped YSZ and the doped YSZ i.e. 5 mol % YZT, are synthesized by conventional as well as microwave processing techniques, from the precursors prepared by mixed oxide method and subsequently characterized for a comparative analysis by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM and Vickers hardness test to investigate the crystal structure, structural changes taking place during the processing, the surface morphology and the micro hardness of sintered products. Whereas earlier, others have processed the same compositions conventionally, in the present investigation, microwave energy has been exploited for sintering YZT composites. Notable density, phase stabilization, grain growth, hardness and density are observed for microwave sintered products.