Role of the monoclinic phase on the thermal and electrical performance of MgPSZ.

MgO-doped partially stabilized zirconia (xMgPSZ, with x = 8 or 10 mol%) materials sintered at 1700°C, were characterized with respect to structure, microstructure, thermal expansion and electrical performance. The monoclinic (M) phase content is almost vestigial in 10MgPSZ, unlike in 8MgPSZ. Combined powder XRD and customized thermal expansion data analysis, allowed a separation between M and tetragonal (T) particles, outside or imbedded in cubic grains. Combination of thermal expansion and impedance spectroscopy data provided novel insights on the totally distinct roles of fine and dispersed T or M particles within the PSZ cubic matrix grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]