Synthesis and characterization of partially and fully stabilized zirconia fibers made from an inorganic precursor

Continuous high-quality fibers of yttria-doped zirconia with 4 and 8 mol% y ttria were blow spun using an inorganic sol precursor. The fibers were heat ed and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, diff erential thermal/thermogravimetric analysis, and surface area/porosity by n itrogen adsorption. The fibers were of a single-phase cubic structure after crystallization at 529 degreesC and typically 3.3-5.5 or 7.5-11.5 mum in d iameter depending on the composition. Samples of fibers were heated to vari ous temperatures and their friability index and creep properties analyzed u sing the bend stress relaxation technique and compared to other fibers of s imilar composition prepared by different solution techniques and commercial ly available fibers.