Grain boundary resistivity in Y-TZP materials as a function of thermal history

Grain-boundary resistivity in yttria-containing tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) materials dominates the total resistivity. Impedance measurements combined with microstructural studies suggest that post-sintering heat treatments (in particular the cooling rate) influence the location of the grain-boundary phase which, in turn, has a significant effect on the grain-boundary resistivity. Higher cooling rates from the sintering temperature lead to reduction in the grain-boundary resistivity. In both alumina-containing and relatively pure tetragonal zirconia polycrystals, post-sintering heat treatments have a less conspicuous effect. The activation energy associated with the grain-boundary resistivity was independent of the post-sintering heat treatments but was 25 to 30 kJ mol^–1 higher than that for the oxygen-ion conduction within the grains at low temperatures.