Preparation, sintering, and properties of translucent Er2O3-doped tetragonal zirconia

This paper reports on tetragonal zirconia doped with 3 mol% Er2O3 prepared by the gel-precipitation wet-chemical method. The compaction response of ultrafine (∼ 8.5 nm), calcined, deagglomerated powders was studied. Initial sintering was studied using both isothermal and nonisothermal techniques, and an activation energy of 270 ± 40 kJ/mol was obtained; therefore, grain-boundary diffusion was probably the predominant mechanism in the sintering stage. The microstructural development in the high-temperature-aged, sintered samples and its effect on density and mechanical properties were also studied. A theoretically dense body of tetragonal zirconia solid solution of 3 mol% Er2O3 - ZrO2, obtained from sintering below 1400 degrees C, was translucent