Sintering of zirconia-yttria ceramics studied by impedance spectroscopy

Sintering of ZrO(2):Y(2)O(3) ceramic compacts have been studied by impedance spectroscopy measurements at 400 degrees C in the 5 Hz-13 MHz frequency range. Cold-pressed samples processed by a co-precipitation route were heat treated at 1350 degrees C for different periods of time. The intragranular resistivity remains constant while the intergranular resistivity decreases for increasing sintering time. A correlation between sintering time and parameters related to pore density determined by impedance spectroscopy was found. The results show that details of the sintering process can be followed by impedance spectroscopy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.