Inhibition of the macrocrack formation in zirconia substrates by barium zirconate formation

Coating of zirconia pellets with a barium carbonate suspension provides a s imple but efficient way for preparing BaZrO3 substrates with enhanced therm al shock resistance compared to commercially available zirconia substrates. Preparation modes, X-ray diffraction analysis and SEM studies of the obtai ned barium zirconate substrates are reported, and the emphasis is made on t he macrocrack formation across the sample. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.