Preparation and characterization of ceria partially stabilized zirconia ceramics

The ceria partially stabilized zirconia (Ce-PSZ) ceramics with 7wt%, 10wt%, and 13wt% CeO₂ stabilizing agent were prepared under industrial conditions. The relationship between the content of CeO₂ and the physics property, mineral composition, and microstructure of zirconia metering nozzles was investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that with the increasing content of CeO₂, the apparent porosity of samples increases, the bulk density and compressive strength decreases, the thermal shock resistance first increases and then decreases; meanwhile, m-ZrO₂ is transformed into c-ZrO₂ and the degree of stability is improved. However, excess c-ZrO₂ will lead to abnormal growth of zirconia particles, which lead to reduction of compressive strength and apparent porosity increasing. Thermal shock resistance of Ce-PSZ is sensitive to the addition of CeO₂. The best thermal shock resistance can be obtained with the addition of 10wt% CeO₂ stabilizing agent, which is 1.5 times that of the sample with 7wt% CeO₂ and 3 times that of the sample with 13wt% CeO₂.