PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDROTHERMAL NANOCRYSTALLINE ZrO₂–Y₂O₃–CeO₂ POWDERS

Abstract

Nanocrystalline powders in the ZrO₂−Y₂O₃−CeO₂ system were produced by hydro-thermal synthesis in an alkaline environment. The powder properties were studied by differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, petrography, and BET. A low-temperature ZrO₂-based cubic solid solution formed in the powders resulting from crystallization in hydrothermal conditions. The specific surface area of the powders was 81−110 m²/g. The lattice parameters of the ZrO₂ solid solutions increased monotonously with the CeO₂ amount. The research results will be used for the microstructural design of composites in the ZrO₂−Y₂O₃−CeO₂ system with high resistance to low-temperature ageing.