PREPARATION AND THERMAL EVOLUTION OF SOL-GEL DERIVED ZIRCONIA AND CERIA ZIRCONIA PRECURSORS

Precursor powders of pure and 10 mol% ceria doped zirconia have been p repared by physical gelation of zirconium (IV) dichloride oxide, ceriu m nitrate, and oxalic acid using triple distilled wate as solvent at r oom temperature (ca. 27 -degrees-C). Both the zirconium(IV) and doped zirconium (IV) oxalate oxide gels are transparent and are dried at 40 -degrees-C. The thermal evolution and crystallization behaviors of the amorphous gels have been investigated by TGA, DTA, and X-ray diffract ion analysis. On calcination at 850 -degrees-C, zirconia precursor tra nsformed to a monoclinic phase whereas only tetragonal phase has been observed for doped zirconia precursor. Estimation of the surface area and IR characterization have also been carried out for the prepared dr ied powders.