INVESTIGATION OF THE DEHYDRATION OF Y-TZP GELS BY CONTROLLED TRANSFORMATION RATE THERMAL-ANALYSIS

An investigation of the thermolysis of 3% yttria doped zirconia sample s has been undertaken using the method of Controlled transformation Ra te Thermal Analysis (CRTA) under a residual pressure of 4.5 X 10(-4) m bar. Investigation of the water washed samples reveals a simple water loss. Thermolysis of the ethanol washed samples however, reveal a seri es of mechanisms without ethanol production. Several ethene related sp ecies are evolved during the course of the reaction indicating the cat alytic nature of zirconia. As at relatively high temperatures these et hene related species are still evolved, this would suggest the formati on of surface ethanolic groups during the ethanol washing.