Energy gap variation in zirconium dioxide powder on comminution

The change in the forbidden zone width of the zirconium dioxide powder is considered by the diffusion reflection spectra in dependence on the comminution time (1, 5, 30 and 60 min.). The increase in the forbidden zone width by 0.14 eV and decrease in the grain size from 2.1 up to 1.43 μm are established during the comminution time of 60 min. It is shown through comparison of the forbidden zone width value of the powders with different grain sizes, obtained through the comminution and sedimentation, that mechanical processing (for example, the powders-pigments processing in ball mills) leads not only to change in the grain sizes, but also to increase in the defectiveness, which may be evaluated by the absorption bands in the powders diffusion reflection initial spectra