The effect of Bi2O3 on the electrical and mechanical properties of ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramics

ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramics with varying Bi2O3 content have been prepared and their microstructure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties investigated. The sintering rate is strongly increased at low temperatures (1270 to 1420 K) due to the occurrence of a reactive phase the amount of which decreases during the sintering process. The main fluorite phase has an approximately constant composition at 0.85 ZrO2-0.13 Y2O3-0.02 Bi2O3 while the amount of second phase depends on overall composition and sintering procedure. The electrical conductivity is also approximately constant but about a factor of five lower than in ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramics. Typical strength and fracture toughness values are 160 MPa and 1.8 MPa m1/2, respectively. However, the non-reproducibility of the second phase content and morphology seriously influences both mechanical properties.