Comparative analyses of the IV group oxides additives influence on the sintering kinetics of zirconia nanopowders

Ceramics materials based on yttria stabilised tetragonal zirconia nanopowders (3Y-TZP) are widely used in the production fuel cells, oxygen sensors, refractories, etc. and intensively studied due to their outstanding mechanical and electrical properties. To obtain ceramics with specific properties different additives can be used. This allow for control over the features of a nanopowder’ structure and its consolidation during the sintering process. It is important examine in detail the initial sintering stage of tetragonal zirconia based nanopowders modified by third element additives. The present paper shows the impact of SiO(2) and SnO(2) additives and the influence of different methods of dopant addition (co-precipitation and mechanical mixing) on the kinetics of the initial sintering stage of tetragonal zirconia nanopowders. It demonstrates that sintering mechanism is changed by the addition of a small amount SiO(2) and SnO(2) by volume to the grain boundary diffusion in 3Y-TZP nanopowders obtained by the co-precipitation method. This change led to increased activation energy. This paper explores the reasons for the acceleration in the sintering process of nanopowders 3Y-TZP with SiO(2) and SnO(2) additives obtained by the mixing method. It shows that the sintering mechanism is the same as that of the initial 3Y-TZP powder obtained by the co-precipitation technique. The volume diffusion mechanism was the predominant mechanism at the initial sintering stage and was accompanied by a decrease in the activation energy of the sintering process.