Physico-chemical methods to control Zirconia powders.
Résumé
The study shows that the characteristics of zirconia powders can be determined. Impurities and particle morphology are not the only variables during powder synthesis, since this may generate or alter intrinsic defects in the surface or bulk of the material. These defects can be detected by tribo- and thermoluminescence. The three zirconias investigated displayed microconstraints and permanent defects resulting in significant changes in both their transformation kinetics (as shown by DTA and XRD) and their physical characteristics (as checked by dilatometry).