Activation of Sintering of Zirconia Ceramics by Gamma Irradiation

Resumo

It was studied how gamma irradiation affects the formation of the phase composition and the properties of ZrO₂-based ceramics containing various contents of Y₂O₃, which stabilizes the tetragonal ZrO₂ phase. Gamma irradiation favored sintering and a decrease in the content of the monoclinic ZrO₂ modification. At a sintering temperature of 1250°C, ZrO₂–3 mol % Y₂O₃ ceramic with a strength of 225 MPa was obtained; this strength is half as high again as that of ceramic synthesized without irradiation.