Evaluation of electrical conductivity and density of 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia produced by Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

In this work, 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (8%YSZ) containing micro or nanoparticles were manufactured by Spark Plasma Sintering technique, in order to improve sample densification and control grain growth. The electrical conductivity of dense 8%YSZ pellets sintered was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Preliminary results showed for samples produced from both micro and nanoparticle sintered at 1000 °C for 5 min, the relative density is approximately 98 %, while for the others samples sintered at 1200 °C the density is above 99 %. These densities are higher in comparison to the same composite sintered by conventional method. The electrical measurements were carried out at 500 °C in air and the best results were obtained for samples with nano particle size in comparison with micro granulometry. The SPS process allows using lower temperatures and shorter times to produce materials with high density and controlled grain growth.

Chemical and microstructural characterisation of HfO2-Y2O3 ceramics with high amount of Y2O3 (33, 40 and 50 mol. %) manufactured using spark plasma sintering

“…However, this sintering process is also often responsible for carbon contamination [37], material reduction and segregation of the elements inside the sample. The sintering of ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramics using SPS has been studied by several authors such as Dvilis et al [38], Fregeac et al [39], Bernard-Granger et al [40], or Polla et al [41]. Different properties have been investigated after spark plasma sintering, such as optical transmission, electrical conductivity or mechanical properties (hardness, flexural strength, Young modulus).…”