FT-IR AND LASER RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF THE FORMATION AND STABILITY OF LOW-TEMPERATURE T-ZRO2

The influence of the preparation chemistry on the formation and the st ability of metastable t-ZrO2 was studied. gamma-Irradiation has very s mall (if any) influence on the r-ZrO2 --> m-ZrO2 transition, while inc reased temperature and pressure caused gradual transition of pure r-Zr O2 to m-ZrO2. Metastable t-ZrO2 containing SO42- impuirties proved to be more stable, and its transition was not uniform. The mentioned effe cts were monitored by FT-IR and laser Raman spectroscopy. X-ray diffra ction was used as a complementary technique. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.