FABRICATION OF DENSE NANOCRYSTALLINE ZRO2-3 WT. PERCENT Y2O3 BY HOT-ISOSTATIC PRESSING

Amorphous to nanocrystalline ZrO2-3 wt. % Y2O3 powders were formed by chemical precipitation from mixed nitrate salt solutions. The powders were cold pressed and presintered in air for 2 to 6 h within the tempe rature range of 1100 degrees C and 1300 degrees C. Hot isostatic press ing was performed for 2 to 3 h within the temperature range of 1150 de grees C to 1350 degrees C in argon pressure of 150 MPa. Fully dense pe llets with grain size of 22 nm to 45 nm were formed by application of low presintering temperatures.