Phase Analysis in Zirconia Systems

Linear calibration curves were developed for determining the content of free ZrO2 in partially stabilized zirconia ceramics by X-ray diffraction techniques. Two methods were studied. The matrix method, in which free ZrO2 was considered to be distributed in a matrix (the cubic phase), gave approximately equal mass absorption coefficients for the monoclinic and cubic phases. The polymorph technique, in which the cubic phase was considered to be a polymorph of ZrO2 and in which integrated intensities were used, gave the better results.