Y2O3 and Nb2O5 doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystals were sintered at 1550ºC by conventional and microwave sintering. The effect of co-doping yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal with Nb2O5 was analyzed. The micro structural changes due to conventional and microwave sintering was studied using SEM and it was found that microwave sintering resulted in uniform microstructure with small grains. The phases were analyzed using X-ray diffraction analysis.
In this present study zirconia particles of nanometric dimensions were synthesized using sol-gel method via the starting precursors of zirconium oxy-chloride octa-hydrate (ZrOCl2.8H2O) and oxalic acid {(COOH)2.2H2O}. A transparent sol obtained was dried at 110° C for 12 hours and the dried gel was subjected to calcination at 1000°C respectively for 3 hours in order to obtain nanozirconia particles. XRD characterization reveals the presence of single phase tetragonal ZrO2and SEM morphological characterization reveals the presence of nanosize ZrO2particles .The particle size distribution also confirms the nanometric size range of ZrO2particles. The obtained nanoparticles was incorporated in the glaze composition which generally is defined as a thin glassy layer on a ceramic body that results by applying a special admixture on ceramic body and by fusing at high temperature. This glaze formulation is well bounded for dry tile manufacturing process .The incorporation of the prepared nanozirconia in a typical glaze composition are well established for its excellent mechanical, thermal and good resistance to chemical attack. Addition of zirconia increases the opacity of the tiles and also enhances the brightness .In this study with the comparison of standard conventional zircon it is bound to say that particle size decreases. Moreover glaze characterizations i.e.TG-DTA, Spectrophotometer, Abrasion resistance, crazing resistance tests was studied which shows the improvement of surface characteristics which has been enhanced by using the nanoparticles. The opacity is also increased with lower dose of usage of zirconia nanoparticles.
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